{It's time! It's time! The raid shall begin! Due to how big this arc is, I decided to split it up. However, that means I can post more chapters quicker. Enjoy~}
Chapter 17 Crota's end. Part 1.
My smile only grew the deeper into the depths of the Hellmouth we went. I just couldn't stop it, I am so excited to finally put in an end to that bastard Crota. Even with this oppressive atmosphere, even with the infamous debuff already weighing me down, still, I smile.
"Yeehaw!" I yell, landing square in the only safe spot in this dark hell. Nokris lands more gracefully than I did, swiping off the dust on his robes and stood up tall. If he wasn't such a cunt I'd think it was pretty cool. But he is and thus I don't give a fuck. {Now then, what do we do now?} Bahamut asked me, 'I have no idea'. I could tell he was giving me the look, you know, the one you give to crazy people. Call it a hunch and leave it at.
"I'm kidding…..mostly." I murmur that last part but he heard. {Mores….} Bahamut said in a worried tone. 'I did raid plenty of times, I know this part like the back of my hand. The other parts I'm good at.' I think to him. I could feel his deadpan. {Only good?} I could hear the worry.
"In my defense, I only ever watched others completed it. I never actually did it myself." I say confidently. The silence stretched on for many minutes after I said.
""{What?!}""" Three set of voices all screamed in unison. One of them Nokris, the other my partner and the third was hiding in my shadow. I reach into that puppy and pull out my slimy friend by the claws, also…. 'Son of a bitch that hurt! What was I thinking?! Grabbing him by the claw?!' I rant inside my mind. I slap myself to get myself back on track. It was also at this moment it clicked that wraith was hiding in my shadow.
"When did you hide in my shadow?" I asked Wraith.
"After. I. Killed. Crowbat." He must mean Kokabiel. How did I not notice him immediately after he tried that...I need to pay more attention to my shadow. {What do you mean you've never tried this raid?!} Bahamut demanded of me.
"Hey, the destiny raiding community is stupid elitist, or at least all the pricks I've met. Do you know what you need to join a raid for those guys? Fifty hours plus raiding experience, and that was just for the easy raids like VOG and this one. Don't even get me started on King's fall, Wrath of the machine, and the Leviathan mini raid!" I ended my rant huffing. Yeah, it was because of them I spent the better hours of the weekend smacking my head against the wall that was this starting zone alone. Which is why I know this part particularly well. I died to it more times than I could care to count, especially now with my high int stat which actually lets me know how many times I've died, and it's very embarrassing.
While I was cooling off from my highly repressed rant. A glowing green….hologram….image of Crota's head appeared in front of us. Three glowing pale eyes stared into all three of us, his nose could hardly be described as one. It was like a pig's snout; two little holes and a small hill of flesh, or bone in his case, just above them. His mouth a was single line with a small crack going down his chin. His hair...crown was what drew my eyes though. I say crown because it was one. A translucent crown, a cream color that filled the entire crown but to the point it was solid. Jagged on every side; every jagged edge of the crown was sharp enough to probably impale any fool that tried to attack from above. I'd bet my fortune on that.
"So, you did come after all. I didn't think you'd be so foolish to dare challenge me on my moon. In my ascendant realm of all things." Crota's voice echoed in my mind, and I just smirked at the bastard. Chuckling as I did so.
"You brought this upon yourself when you thought sealing my rewards was a good fucking idea. Your head will be mounted upon my wall, right after I'm done using it as a urinal of course." My voice dripping with bloodlust and hatred, I stared into those eyes as they glared into mine. I showed no fear, he showed a murmur of it. My smirk grew bigger.
"Well, you'll never get close to my throne. My brood will make sure to keep you and that filthy outcast away." He taunted Nokris, who of course became very pissed very quickly.
"I may be an outcast, but you could never fathom the knowledge I've gained. Your puny mind couldn't even comprehend what I know." nokris countered, woof. Burned. I could tell Crota was absolutely livid.
"Once I deliver your head to father, I will be greatly rewarded for putting an end to your taboo magics." Crota snarled. Nokris responded with his own snarl.
"Just like you, to run straight to Oryx. You were always that cunt's favorite." Now, if Crota wasn't pissed before. He certainly was now. Emerald flames engulfed the image of his head, Crota's eyes going a pure black and he seemed to almost materialize right in front of me.
"You. Dare speak ill of our father? I'll rip your tongue out and feed it to your new leash holder." Crota glared, mere inches from his brother's face. Nokris refused to back down, which is admirable but I really want to get to the part where I kill Crota. This family bickering is starting to get old real fast for me. Though thankfully Crota scoffed one last time before disappearing, finally!
"Okay, I have the route memorized so hop into the shadows and let's go!" I tell my summons and hop right in, Wraith follows immediately and Nokris deadpans at me.
"I can't do that." He said, in perfect deadpan. I stuck my head out.
"What do you mean you can't? Don't you have access to my skills like Wraith does?" At the sound of me calling his name, Wraith popped his head out as well. Though I pushed him back into the darkness. I didn't need him yet.
"No." Was the only thing he said and began walking in the opposite direction you are supposed to go. I jumped out of the shadows and grabbed the fool by the horns before he got lost.
"Let go of my horns! The one you broke finally stopped being sore! Get off of me!" Nokris demanded but I then suplexed him, by the horns, onto the ground. Because he wasn't expecting that he had no way to block it, I jumped off his head but kept a hold of his horns.
"Now, you listen to me and you listen well. I know how to progress to the next area, but I can't do that if you wander off in an unknown direction. Hive have night vision correct?" I asked him, with a sigh he nodded. I then pointed towards the general direction of the first lamp, I could almost see it's light from over here.
"You see that lamp right?" I asked him. He nodded.
"As well as the one behind it." Nokris surprised me with that but I shouldn't be so surprised, I figured hive could see better in the dark than the light.
"Now we have to follow those lanterns to the end, where's a stone plate which will build a bridge to the next part. I can get there within moments since I basically have this entire area tattoed in my memory. Wraith could follow me and be there just after me, but you. You have two options. One, let me de-summon you-"
"No. I'm not leaving until Crota is dead." I saw the conviction in Nokris's eyes. Which was a bit difficult in that he had three of the buggers. However, I knew I couldn't get him to leave, which means the second option.
"-or, you follow the trail of lanterns straight to the plate. Wraith and I will keep the legions of thrall, both exploding and non exploding, off your back while you make it there." I tell him, he obviously didn't enjoy the thought of being the bait for the thrall here, but we both knew there was no other feasible way he could cross. So with a sigh, he agrees with my plan, I get off his horns and we make, correctly this time, towards the build bridger.
Not even at the first lamp and the thrall are already swarming us. Though, unlike Nokris's fight, I am in my element here. With a snap of my fingers, black spikes skewer every thrall that dares to come close. I pay close attention to any light blue ones and if they ever got close, I used my Jedi mastery of the force to chuck it at an even larger group of thralls...oh how they burn! 'It's splendid! They way their bones crackle, they way their monstrous screams echo before the boom! Oh, it's almost enough to bring a tear to the eye at its beauty.' I say to myself, inwardly of course. We leaned against it, me more than Nokris since I was desperately getting rid of that damn debuff. By the time it turned red we had already left, and I chucked a cursed thrall at it and watched the boom.
"Ahh, that feels so good." I sigh in sweet, sweet revenge. This part of the raid alone took me hours to try to complete solo. So watching countless thrall blow up by a lantern was...relaxing to me. The thrall now, with my control over the dark, couldn't even get close unless I allow it and to just hear them scream as their own darkness, that they thought would protect them, crushed their bones to dust under its weight was just perfect in my mind. We're already approaching the second lantern, it wasn't that far in between them after all. Then I got a crazy idea, remembering the instant death holes nearby. I stopped Nokris just out of the lantern's range, we were gonna need every last second of its charge.
"I have an idea, can you pick that up?" I asked the hive prince. Pointing at the lantern, casually slaughtering several dozen thralls as he waited. Feeding those monsters to the meat grinder that was my darkness affinity didn't even take thought. Nokris looked at the lantern, skeptical, but he did agree to do it.
"Good, now pick that up. I have an idea I wanna check out." I ordered Nokris, he glared but did go over and with a grunt picked up.
"Good, now lets run before that thing blows upon us," I tell him, running past. It takes a few seconds for him to realize what I said and he was running right after me. The thralls were right behind Nokris, he caught up to me and looked close to murdering me.
"Why?!" Was all he asked. I simply smiled at him, watching his eyes ignite in green fire from anger. I pointed to an upcoming hole, it was off to the side but it was the closest one. The lantern was starting to turn red and we had only one chance at this.
"Now, dunk the bastard!" I yelled at Nokris. Who under the weight of both the lantern and the debuff which had just started again, jumped up and slam dunked the red lantern. I grabbed his robe and stopped him falling in. Flinging us a ways back. The lantern exploded and plumes of fire erupted across the planes of the hive. The screams of millions of hive echoed in our ears as the flames lit up even this dark sky. I motioned for us to run before the third lantern explodes. The fires faded as did the cries but no more thrall came after us. Even as we passed the fourth, fifth and even sixth lanterns.
"How did you-" Nokris tries to ask but I interrupt him.
"-Know that's what would've happened? I didn't, I only knew that's where the thrall came from. Now it could be two things, an underground network where thrall could pop out of to catch us. Or, they could be interconnected breeding pits where thrall would crawl out of to try and ambush us. So, with their biggest weakness being solar burn as you would know, the lanterns use solar burn to instant kill guardians from what I remember. So, either way, I saw kindling to their entire operation and threw a nicely sized firebomb at it. Burning every thrall alive down there. Though it's possible there are survivors, they can't launch any more swarming strikes on the same magnitude as before." I say in a calculated fashion. I still don't know whether or not they were breeding pits or just caves, either way, they ain't coming out of those holes any time soon. Nokris was sweating a little, I don't think it got hotter even with those columns of flames everywhere.
"You are a terrifying man." Oh, it was nerves, fair enough. I hold no mercy for monsters, at least the ones who piss me off enough. I just smile kindly at Nokris, which I'm sure just creeps him out even more.
"I try my best," I say, a small psychotic smile behind my mask. I walk ahead, looking around and only seeing smoke from the pits and the subtle glow of the lanterns ahead. My smile grows, though it's no longer a psychotic one. This raid is going well….which usually means something weird is gonna happen. I've been Ragnorak's gamer long enough to know that random shit always happens when things go according to plan. So even as we passed the seventh lantern, the eighth and even the ninth lantern with little to no enemies like I predicted. I still refused to become complacent. The hive knights kept me from becoming too comfortable but they were far and few between, at least compared to swarms of thrall just a few minutes prior.
"Still waiting." I murmur as we pass the eleventh lantern. A hive knight thought it would be wise to sneak up on me, Wraith got to it before I could impale it. I nod to the wraith and pick up the knight's sword, I inspected the blade. It kept my mind busy and a bit more focused, I can't let my focus slip. The raid had become dreadfully boring after my successful plan of nuking the caverns, but boring means safe in battle which is something I shouldn't complain about. I pick up a stone off the ground as we pass the twelfth lantern without incident. I grind the sword against the stone, watching as it slimmed. The rocks down here are basically whetstones, makes sense in a way. It's how the knights keep their blades sharp after all. 'maybe they have bigger ones or just carry some in their pockets….do they even have pockets? I can't exactly dissect them, they disappear before I get the chance.' I think to myself. Grinding the blade, shortening it to a more manageable sword size but as we passed the thirteenth lantern with only two knights fighting us. So I continued to shorten the blade, to the point it was a dagger in my hands. Went through about fifteen stones but they worked and it was for free so no skin off my back.
Anyone could tell a novice did the job, there are scratch marks all over the dagger that shouldn't be there in all honesty. The handle was rough as well, there was no leather down here to wrap it nor animals to the skin to make leather so that can't be helped. The dagger was correctly pointed at the very least, appropriately sharp as well on both sides as I nearly cut myself twice minimizing it.
"Mores? How many more lanterns until we get to the end of this abyss?" Nokris asked me, I take a look around and we were just approaching the fourteenth lantern, and if I squinted enough I could see the glow of the fifteenth lantern, just barely though. Note to self make a skill that allows me to see in the dark.
"After this one, only one left. Then there's a plate we need to either stand on or stand near until a bridge is formed then we move to the next zone." I told him. He nodded and it was silent as we passed the fourteenth lantern. I place the knife in his robe. He noticed the shift and pulled it out, giving me a confused look.
"Just in case, besides, I've noticed you wizards have a lack of self-defense besides your magic. So I figured if you had an actual weapon, it will help greatly in that regard. Besides, every mage should have at least a dagger on them." I told Nokris, he nodded. Understanding my point, he slips that dagger back in his robes.
"Thank you." I was more than a little shocked to hear him thank me, so much so that without Wraith stopping me I would've gone into a hole off the trail. I snapped out of it and nodded at Nokris.
"Your welcome." I wanted to ask him about why necromancy was such a taboo. I knew the basics why everyone who paid attention to his strike also knew. But it never made sense on why Oryx threw Nokris out because of it. The hive worship death and Nokris being able to skip a step and provide a seemingly infinite supply of reanimated hive is an invaluable resource. It does mess with Oryx's philosophy a bit I admit. But Oryx is not so stupid nor is he so prideful that he would throw such power away. 'Was it because Nokris gained that power through a worm god? Oryx doesn't seem to be on the best terms with them. He did slaughter one of them and use its corpse to build the Dreadnaught. Is that all that is?' I think to myself, Oryx is an enigma. I have a feeling he will want my head once I kill Crota, that I have no doubt. But I don't really want to kill him, unlike his son, Oryx is a fascinating character and a bit of a badass as well. 'Though I might only think that because I think the hive is definitely the coolest of the enemy races in Destiny, second only to the fallen.' I thought as well, but only time will tell if I will have to kill the Taken King, or if I can get him to become a summon though that's a bit of a pipedream, to be honest. I only got Nokris as my summon because Xol basically ordered him to become my summon, when we first met he would rather die than serve me.
"Is that it?" Nokris's question snapped me back into reality. The last lantern was right in front of me, and the plate just a little behind that. I nod, I kick over the lantern as I walk past it, grabbing it from the bottom I chuck it into the infinite void that awaited us if we didn't build the bridge. Nokris went over to the plate and stepped on it, it glowed bright green and I could tell it was working.
"Now, we wai-" An arc bolt interrupted me, it passed right by my head and almost hit Nokris in the back. I quickly turned around and see two hive that I was positive I put down. The Will Of Crota and the Fist Of Crota. I knew something like this would happen but I still hate that I called it. Nokris turned around and sighed, looks like he knows these two as well.
"If it isn't my brother's concubine and the leader of the sword princes. Oh honored I am that you graced me with your presence once again." The sarcasm was thicker than tar in Nokris's voice. It definitely pissed the duo off. I decided to prob.
"Didn't I kill you like last week?" I ask them, at what, I felt large amounts of killing intent pointed at me. More than these two can conjure up by far. In the corner of my eyes, I see a small army, the sword princes, the Blades of Crota. The Eyes, Hand, Heart and Might of Crota. I also see some new names that I never fought before. A hive knight named Urzok the Hated. The other 'new' guy I didn't recognize was an ascended Ogre or at least one on the verge of ascendance. Its name was The Forsaken. They must be bounty only enemies. Never did get the chance to do those missions sadly. All these guys were well above 400 in their levels, well except the sword princes and blades of Crota. But they were all level 250...I am so glad I didn't bring Issie and all the other devils with me. With their levels, they would just get in the way. As heartless as that sounds, it's the sad truth. 'I'm so gonna train them rigorously after I'm done with this raid.' I think to myself. Grabbing my scythe free of my inventory. {I count a little over twenty enemies partner. This is not gonna be easy.} He warns me, especially since I can't use Balance Breaker at all nor can I use Call To Arms, I used them on Kokabiel after all.
"Well, why don't I even things up a little?" While Wraith maybe the only surviving member of my high council skill, I can still summon a lot of people. Out of the shadows walked out the remains of the damned. Death gun came in riding Cerberus along with Eleanor and Delta. They hopped off the giant dog, as they did so the keeper of the damned joined with the remains, and four defenders of the damned joined Nokris on the plate, allowing the hive prince to leave it to them. He raised some fallen Hive knights and I gave them their blades.
"Well, that evens us up quite nicely, wouldn't Omnibitch?" I asked Crota's general. She was absolutely livid. She screamed and the strongest of Crota's brood attacked us. I simply lowered my hand and my forces charged to meet them. I was the first in battle, as all leaders should be, beside me was Death gun, blasting away the shields of the blades of Crota. Delta was charging his drill and was about to square off with the Might. I just smile and go straight for Omnigul.
[Bgm, !]
I jumped over the Fist's swing as their line descended into the madness of battle. He sent shockwaves to attempt to throw me off course. I open my wings and use the shockwaves to glide up and over him completely. I close my wings and dive towards the witch in the back.
She spots me instantly and fires arc bolt after arc bolt at me. I used the shadows as my shield and fall forwards. I land right in front of her, she tried to shoot me again but I grab her arm and twist it so the arc bolt smacked her in the face, getting rid of her own shield. She snarls and punches me in the face, but the punch is too weak to get me off of her.
Though the Fist was an entirely different story as his fist slammed into my back with such force that I nearly folded upon impact, and I do mean fold literally! I recover using my wings but he was already on me just as I hit the ground. His sword comes crashing down, I barely block him with my scythe. My knees shake and nearly buckle but using the shadows I create another shade of oryx and tackle the giant knight off me. I don't have a second to breathe as Omnigul fires shot after at me. I bring up another wall of darkness but still, I can't breathe as a Blade of Oryx thought it was a good idea to attack from behind. I respond to that by disarming him, grabbing his own sword before it hit the ground and ran it through his head. I turn back around and push forward as the body disintegrates behind me. Though the Fist came back and attacked from the side, I grab my scythe and block yet another thunderous blow. I growl as I'm pushed back and away from my shield. I hear the arc bolts before I see them and four hit me in the side of the face, breaking the right side of my mask. I spit out the blood that formed in my mouth when I heard another volley charging I slipped under the Fist's legs and kicked him into the attack. Fisto yelled in agony but he didn't die. That wouldn't be enough to kill him and I know that. So what can I do? I take a deep breathe while I'm able to and get back into a stance. Focus on defense, and counter big.
He glared at me as part of his face and body was smoking. My armor was slowly repairing itself as was my mask, but he could still see my smirk. I flipped him the bird and used it to motion him to come over to me. He was co-operative and in a fury came down upon me with slow but thunderous blows. Each strike I dodge, these attacks I couldn't simply block or parry. Using the edge of my weapon I cut into his legs little every time I dodge his attack. Arc bolts come flying towards my head but I activate Shadow Morph and the darkness blocked her attacks. I just need to focus on this nuisance first.
'Dodge, roll under' I coach myself, rolling a low sweeping attack. My scythe hooks into his inner thigh and he screams from the pain. I push and carve out a nice chunk of his bone armored leg. He howls and holds his wound for only a moment though. I try to exploit it but he swings his sword, I just barely avoid losing my head a second time today. I jump back, my control of the shadows blocking yet more arc bolts. Doesn't she know any other- 'Nope cutting that thought at the root, no need to power up these bastards.' I tell myself. Staying far away from the Murphy's law. I am not triggering it!
The Fist leaps over and plunges down. I roll out of the way, as he lands. I see a small window for a counter and I take it. I jump on his back, he tries to shake me off but I'm holding on just to tight. Using Death's Arsenal I create a small dagger, about 500 grams in weight. Made out of pure Caesium and stab it straight in his shoulder, he was guarding his neck to well. I jump off his back and create another blade, but this made entirely of water, using my elemental affinity I pick up the water and form it into a ball.
Now Caesium is the most 'active' alkali metal on earth, and by most 'active' I mean the one that makes the biggest boom in water. I chuck the orb of water, taking cover underground, and hit the dagger straight on, before he could understand what was happening, a giant explosion obliterated his left arm and half of his chest, who says chemistry isn't useful? He screams and I emerge from the ground ready finish him. My scythe swings and takes his head clean off what remained of his shoulders. The Fist is dead for real this time, he died in an ascendant plane. Not even Oryx can come back from that. I kick the head away and charge straight towards Omnigul.
She, of course, was freaking out and was launching just about everything she had. I set up a screen of darkness so thick not even she could see through it. She screamed in fear and fired not only arc bolts, but clouds of poisonous and slowness gas. Quite the combo, but I traveled in the dark and the gas could not affect the shadows. This ascendant realm may as well have been handcrafted for Gamers like me. I emerge just behind her and swing, she dodges my weapon and continues to shoot at me. I was curious so I attempted to assimilate ordnance. Bahamut growled the gear wasn't holding the power well. She was definitely well over my level and over its capabilities to fully assimilate it. So I sent it back.
"Retort!" I aim and fire a bolt of arc energy that zapped Omnigul, frying her alive and getting rid of the shield at the same time. The Will of Crota screams a banshee's cry of terror. However, all of her other units were to busy fighting for their lives against my immortal summons. You kill them, they come back instantly if I want them to, thus making them functionally immortal. They weren't. Not outside this realm and certainly not in it. I kneed her in the gut, as she clutches her stomach I grab her by the top of her skull and smash her into the ground. She flails and lets loose yet another cry for help, but no one can come. I cut her arms clean off, she screams. She tries to sit upon but my boot was on her chest and my scythe at her neck. I pulled it back, by her terrified expression I must look like death itself coming to claim her soul.
" ! Spare me, please! I.I'll serve under you, and only you! Just please don't kill me!" She begged of me, I tapped my scythe on her throat. I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it at all. Except, the skill that lets me do that drains me dry of mana, and while that wouldn't be an issue normally, the other powerful hive fighting around me is. Wraith would stay, of course, the high council ability only wears off when every member is killed except me, but everyone else? They would disappear and I'd be left fighting all of them with wraith alone. I wouldn't even be able to hide in the shadows cause that ability also takes mana. I would be screwed if I did that, they'd kill me quicker than my mana could regenerate. It's not worth it.
"Sorry dearie, I'm afraid your gonna have to die," I tell her calmly, her eyes widen and she bellows and cries, trying to escape from her death but my boot kept her pinned and without her hands, she could do nothing.
"Shut. Up." I say, cutting off her head in a single clean stroke. Her corpse disappears to dust under my boot. I kick away her head. I take a deep breath, okay who needs help. I look around and the ones closest to me that need help are Delta and Eleanor. I run over, they were pinned by the Heart and Might of Crota. They were behind the death rock if this were a normal raid standing behind or on top of that rock basically guaranteed your survival. Now, it was only just cover. I slide in next to them, they almost attack me but they realize it's me and we turn our attention on them.
"Any ideas Mores?" Eleanor asked me, I glance out and see the ranged duo. I create a wall of shadow to block their ranged attacks.
"Okay, here's an idea. I create and push up a wall of shadow and we use that for cover. I take out the Heart, you two take care of the Might. It shouldn't be too difficult for Delta to bring that beast down, then you Eleanor, plunge that lovely needle right in its brain sack as deep as you can." I tell her, Eleanor nods and Delta's drill revved up. They were ready. We jump out from behind cover and I do my part, create and push a wall of darkness forwards. Due to how thick it had to be and it's height and length, it felt like I was pushing a brick wall. But I used to play the soul series for fun, brick walls are nothing new to me.
I slowly push forward, their attacks couldn't get through the wall. Inch by inch I pushed forwards, Eleanor and Delta right beside me. Pushing on the wall physically, they were trying to help but I told them no. They would fall through and Delta nearly fell through, thankfully Eleanor caught him before he could be blown apart by the Heart and Might. The time came sooner than I expected when Delta drill rushes out of the barrier and tackles the Might, Eleanor closely behind him. I thinned the wall and shortened it. Taking a deep breath and I pushed this much lighter brick wall into the Heart before it could strike Delta and Eleanor. I jump out of my own wall of shadow, wielding two scythes. My black one and the Scythe Of The Damned. It's blood red and crackles with red lightning by the way. My two scythes hook around the Heart and I sliced the Heart in three already disintegrating pieces. I dismissed the extra scythe and took another few deep breaths. As I did so Eleanor did as I told her to and the Might crumbled into dust. I pull out three elixirs and toss two to Delta and Eleanor. I drink the third one, I need to keep my mana up. All of these summons have all but stopped my mana regeneration after all so I am in risk of burning it all out.
Once I finish it I look around again to see who needs help. Instantly I see the defenders hiding behind their shields for as the Forsaken blasts their shields straight on. Nokris, however, has his own problems with the Blades and Swarm princes. Nokris was closer so I came crashing in, instantly killing one of the Blades.
"Let's kill these knights quickly," Nokris tells me, and I agree with him. My scythe rips apart the Blades while Nokris blasts a swarm prince into Oblivion. One of the Blades once again tries to go for my back, I kick its head in and smash the pole part of my scythe and watch its head explode. What is it about these guys and attacking my back? Is there a sign there only they can see? 'It should warn them of scythes ahead.' I chuckle a little at my joke. Four of them suddenly attack my front, using the pole I block three and the blade cuts the head off the fourth. The three slowly start to push me back, but I cheat and use my control of the shadows to create a wall of spikes and I watched as the wall swung at the three and killed all of them in a single swipe. That's the last of the Blade, two more Swarm princes left. Speaking of, Merok swung his blade down upon my head. I caught the sword with some quick shadow manipulation and used it against him. Thus there was one….where is it? I saw a shadow fly past me, quickly turning around I watched as the last swarm prince legged it. Nokris also noticed it and blasted the poor fool into oblivion.
Before I could breathe I was picked up by the Hand, he ran with me towards the edge. 'Ah hell no! I'm not gonna be dragged into his suicide!'
"Not today dickhead!" I proclaim, instead of you know paying attention since he was already at the edge with me in tow. Shitty fuck.
"Thorn bind hostage!" magical thorns erupt from the dead ground and tangled the Hand. Creating a tiny dagger, I slice through one of the vines and it dropped me from the sudden explosion of magic power. While he's still trapped by my thorns, I move the fuck away from the edge. Though suddenly, a shroud of mist appeared and my thorns were cut. I could hear the explosion of mana but it sounded like it came from all around me. I spun my scythe as fast I could, whipping the wind faster with my magic, I cleared away the fog and the Hand was gone. In the corner of my eye, I saw him retreat across the bridge of light that led to the next part of Crota's world. 'He's not worth the hassle, I'll kill that hive later. He'll probably die with his king.
"You good?" I asked Nokris and the Defenders. The Defenders gave me a thumbs up, Nokris blasted the Forsaken's rubbery face clean off. He gave me a thumbs up as well, wearing a smirk at that. I nod at them and try and find Urzok The Hated, though I was pleasantly surprised that Death Gun had completely wiped the floor with it, only dust remained. Cerberus and the Remnants meanwhile were finishing off the Eyes of Crota, I watched as the Ogre melted away from the three-headed puppy's flame breath. The Remnants just sat on Cerberus's middle head, meditating as if to mock the dying hive.
"I guess you three have everything handled over here then?" I asked the trio. Death gun picked up Urzok's weapon and chucked it over the side of the nearest edge.
"Compared to the black swordsman, they are nothing more than mindless brutes. Though, without meeting you, I doubt I could have won against those monsters." Death gun said, walking past me towards the plate. I smile at the compliment, I think I'm growing on him. Cerberus kneels in front of me, silently asking if I want to get on. I politely refuse, enjoying walking and besides. I need to feel that bridge with my own feet.
{BGM End}
"It's nearly been five years." I murmur, that's how long ago the DLC this raid came from. When everyone raided this zone when I first tried to ram my head into this unbreakable wall. 'Doesn't seem real at all. Here I am, in the ascendant plane, fighting hive and going off to kill one of their gods. A year ago, if someone told me I would be fighting monsters from one of my favorite game series, I'd run the other way thinking they escaped from a mental asylum. Yet, here I am. In a body that is now mine, in a world that flourishes where the supernatural is natural. Where I wield such insane power, heh, it really is crazy.'
Wraith broke my self-reflection, poking my arm.
"There's. A. Chest. That. Will. Only. Open. For. You." I raised an eyebrow, that's new. Though considering we were just attacked by all of Crota's lieutenants at once, and some I've killed already, I should just be thankful it's not Oryx coming to meet me. I followed Wraith and he led me to said chest. Any gamer worth their salt could tell it was a raid chest, in some games only the party leader can open them. It wasn't hive based like I expected it to be. It is a giant, like up to my ribs giant, black chest. Smooth high-quality leather covered the top in perfectly stitched lines, which appeased my blooming OCD greatly. The chest itself was made out of black iron, the coolest looking of iron, ala Black Iron Tarkus. A single latch was on it, a brand of chaos was put right where the lock should be. Ragnorak has good tastes in chests. My hand grabbed the latch and the seal broke instantly, I unlocked the latch and pushed the top open. Inside was a single black beacon of sorts. I pulled it out of the chest, then proceed to kick the chest in my inventory. The beacon was smooth and shining even in the dark. It looked closer to a cane for a child than a beacon. The top of it was a crystal that when I stared into it, it looked like a Kaleidoscope. The pole part was completely black, which was surprising since it's so shiny, you'd think it be the opposite.
{What does the beacon do? Also why the chest?}
"I'm gonna check and I like the chest, sue me," I tell my partner, Observe if you would.
Caller of the Chariot. Item, multi-use.
Effects: A black beacon that summons an AC, one you know very well. It might come in handy sometime.
Ok, I like this item. I like it a lot, I put the beacon in my inventory for later. I walk towards the front of the plate, everyone waits for me to step on it. Without hesitation I take a step on the bridge…..it feels just as I imagined it. Warm, in fact so warm that I noticed in comparison how cold everything else is. Makes sense, light is warm and darkness is cold.
"We will take that prince's head! Are you with me?!" I raise my scythe in the air and hear screams of approval, cries of battle. Even Nokris was apart of that and I smile like a mad hatter. I turn back towards the gate and charge forward.
"Then follow me to the next zone!" I scream as I run I hear their thunderous footsteps behind me. We will descend deeper into darkness, away from the warmth of the light. But that's the thing about me, I've always liked the cold, and now? The cold doesn't bother me anymore.