Act IV - Sorrow and Acceptance

Chapter 12 - Beyond Darkness

[Last City, Tower, Base of the Wall]

I never once saw the wall from the very bottom before, now that I peered up, it was... very tall, makes me wonder the effort those previously put into its construction must have felt when it was complete, turning this country-sized area into a sealed sanctuary for humanity. I wasn't alone, having Morbin and Zane with me for, what I could only describe as an important, but baffling message.

Dear, Ceres

Surprised to hear from me? I bet, I'm subject to leave for a lengthy mission near Saturn so I wanted to give you and your fireteam a small token of my appreciation. It will seem harsh but I'm not as kind as Summer was, but I can assure you this will aid you all if you take my gift to heart, especially that idiot, Zane.

Meet me at the base of the Tower wall, below the Speaker's Observatory where maintenance on the wall is being conducted. Preferably before 1 PM.

Sincerely,

V

We were just off to the side of the tower, facing up at the Speaker's Observatory. There were repairs and maintenance happening along this section of the wall, simple fixes that robots could do I assume, but at the base of the platform lifting supplies up to the machines was the Hidden Exo, Vlad, and his ghost, Skoll.

"Well, this is a surprise." I couldn't tell if Morbin was being sarcastic or was generally surprised, but it was great to see him again. He turned from making a report to a robot, pointing up at the wall, then he turned to us, violet eye wide at our approach

"So you came, good," Was this a test or something? Taking a look at us closely, he crossed his arms. "Now, to waste little time I'll get to my point, your Light, I've seen it before, you three have learned to use Light Enhance, correct?"

"We did, it took some time though for me." I admitted

"Summer taught me!" Zane proudly spoke up, while Morbin merely huffed

"Hmm, fair enough. Well, after that little stunt you pulled, you seem to be well informed of Light Unity, something even I can't do," Vlad sounded gruff, his expression not exactly thrilled by Zane's stunt with that fusion Super, I never brought it up, but that scar along his arm looked bad, even during the Festival party. "You were lucky, don't forget that."

"Rika tells me that often enough, I know." Even for Zane, he was rather understanding, usually, he'd apologize when someone pointed out a flaw, well, so long as he was okay I'm okay

"So this gift of yours? Is it to do with our Light?" Was this what I thought it was? If so, I'm starting to get excited

"Correct, not many know how to conduct their Light in our methods, atleast, not past Light Enhance; To those that know, there are three more techniques common among people like myself," Vlad explained, with Skoll projecting a diagram of figures using Light, the first was Enhance, but the next was of a Guardian using a Razor's Edge, then it moved, flowing the energy into the form of a Golden Gun. "The second is called Light Connect."

"You can expend more Light to chain Supers so long as you have access to two elements beforehand. Combining this with Enhance would work but you can't use two Supers in a chain." Vlad gave the rundown

"So we can say use Void to enhance our bodies, but then use an Arc Super?" Morbin inquired, Vlad bobbed his head

"Exactly. This connect however can only last three times or you suffer from severe withdrawal of Light, close to Light Extinguish, something I've seen and it's not pretty." That made me shiver, okay, Ghost, take note, no more than three

"Got it, I'll continue to take notes from now on." You're the best

The third image was that of three figures. One used a Hammer of Sol, throwing it toward a Nightstalker who guided the energy along the tip of an arrow, firing it off toward the last figure, who conjured lightning in his hands, catching and channeling the three elemental forces into one before propelling it into the sky.

"This is called Light Bind, it is tricky to use, but effective if the fireteam wills their Light to be harmless to their allies, like usual, only the passed along energy of the previous two in the chain must be collected by the third, if they can control the unstable Light with their own, it can be a devastating force against any enemy of the Darkness," That looked amazing, maybe we could do that someday? "Of course, fail and you'll die, but the backlash won't be permanent, just painful."

"Of course it's painful." Zane chuckled, and so, Skoll brought up the last image. it displayed something we've all witnessed a certain Hunter perform. "Oh hey, it's me!"

"Who do you think I got the image of an idiot from?" Skoll murmured but Zane didn't catch that

"The fourth, and most dangerous, Light Unity. This technique is a force of nature incarnate. If you have access to two or three elements you can learn to infuse the elements of each into a single, unstoppable weapon, but the factors are much higher. You must have a clear image, knowing how to synergize the unstable properties of each element carefully, if even one is out of balance could end your reincarnation, forever." He made it clear to us, but his head rose to the sky. "But I've seen it before, and it is a power unlike any other."

"Woah... so, what are you going to teach us?" I asked curiously, and his hand pointed to the wall

"Climb the wall and make it to the very top."

. . .

"HUH?" All five of us blurted out, Deus looking to Vlad, then the wall, then back to Vlad, then shook his shell and disappeared

"I agree with him -WHAT THE [BEEP]-!?" Kreig summed it up nicely, what the hell?

"Umm... think Zavala might actually exile me this time..." Zane half-joked. He then clenched his fists multiple times. "I don't have fishhooks for fingers either."

Vlad rubbed the bridge of his nose. "If you want to learn the other methods you need to master them one at a time, rushing into this will only end in alot of pain or death, there is no short cut to power if there is then I'll show you an idiot." Vlad barked, his arms blazing immediately, forming two balls of fire in his hands. "Mastering enhancement also grants more than a power-up, if possible, you can manifest your Light element into its true potential."

He clasped his hands as though holding onto a pole, and from within his palms grew a handle, a guard of roaring flames spitting out, followed by a surge of heat down to his feet, sending a few lines of embers down at our feet. From his shoulderblades sprouted a pair of brilliant, flaming wings, my eyes could hardly believe it!

"I... didn't see that coming?" Morbin gawked himself, while Zane clasped his helmet in his hands, shaking with excitement

"I-I've seen this! It's only ever manifested for a few Warlocks through-out history! Hahahaha!" Zane was in awe alongside me and Morbin. Vlad simply smiled

"This is the final stage of a Sunsinger. Dawnblade." Even the name sounded so cool! Even I felt the heat of the blade as it finally faded away, Vlad dusting off his hands. "Now that I've given the three of you motivation, ready to go?"

"You bet." "I am intrigued." "Whenever you're ready!"

"Good," He turned to the wall. "You will scale the wall and use you Light Enhance constantly, not just to boost your progress, but to expand you Light reservoir, that should aid you in the long run. But to assure you, this won't be easy, I have enlisted the aid of some... enthusiastic Guardians to 'help' you along the way." I didn't like the sound of that

*CRASH!*

Just then, all of us bar Vlad jumped at the sight of a smashed box once filled with daggers slam into the platform, sending razor-sharp blades everywhere. Whoever was 'helping' Vlad had to be crazy, who just throws a box of daggers!?

"Well, someone is certainly excited." Skoll chuckled darkly, Ghost and Rika quickly vanishing themselves. "Good luck~" He didn't sound encouraging

"The Light to any Guardian is a weapon against the Darkness, and it can remain like that for most of a Guardian's life, a narrowminded thought, but those who learn, who are willing to broaden their horizons on the potential of the Light, they are the most powerful among us, the Iron Lords, myself and Summer, and a number of others have all seen this and have learned to an extent, how to harness our Light to its true potential." His finger rose up the wall, glaring back at us

"Climb the wall, use your Light Enhance to expand your reservoir of Light and learn as you proceed to avoid the obstacles in place, do not waver, and do not quit until you reach the summit, otherwise, you will die someday, it's harsh but that's the reality of it." Blunt but correct, we had to overcome this task, there wasn't a shortcut or cheat, we either try and try again or fail

"First to the top's the best!" Zane already augmented himself, dashing vertically along the wall and was already starting to gain distance between us. Morbin, on the other hand, enhanced himself but started to murmur

"Mine enhances my endurance, but there has to be a way to use that in a practical method, perhaps against the traps or maybe..." I stopped listening, he was starting to freak me out. Clenching my fists, my body immediately burst into flames, strength filling up my veins as I bent at the knees for an extended jump

"Keep the fire burning, expand my reservoir, push beyond my limit!"

With a boost of roaring flames, my feet slammed into the wall, fingers sinking into the concrete as I hopped my way up the wall, scaling toward Zane who was actually making good-

*BONK!*

A large collection of green engrams suddenly piled atop him, sending him screaming back down as I winced, his body buried in the ground as Vlad remained stoic but I could hear Skoll laughing. What kind of torture was this?

"Ceres left!" I did so, seeing another collection of green engrams fly by. Seeing shifty black figures high above me, it was clear they were launching this attack from the Tower itself, meaning if I broke past that line I'd be safe to go all out. Grinning, I sunk my fingers deeper, using another burst to send my hurdling upward, though a flash of purple passed me

"What!?" Morbin flew ahead, using his strength and lack of strain due to his Void enhance to pull ahead, just then, the tingling sensation of lightning crawled up to me, meaning Zane was close. Not wanting to be outdone I leapt high, swinging my body up and over a lift, using the flat surface to glide higher, swinging my body around and latching onto the wall again

I blinked, my fingers slid, a black sludge sliding down the wall, my hands desperately trying to claw back into the stone but my fire was boiling the liquid, making it harder to hold on all while Morbin flew past me, grabbing a wire from the lift, while I started to slide down the wall, hitting Zane on the way as we fell to our deaths.

...

We were brought back, myself sitting atop Zane who groaned. "I'm okay..." I gasped sharply, jumping away as... why do they have a toaster!? Where did they get a toaster!? It struck Zane in the head, popping out two slices of toast in the process. "Ugh... less okay..."

"Sorry, Zane!" I called back, not wanting Morbin to have the lead for long. I wasn't going to lose! Reigniting my flames I soared high, clambering up the wall while avoiding the many objects thrown down to stop us, Morbin having to take a break up ahead since he was being pelted with white engrams, some shattering against his head

Sensing my opportunity I dove up with a heave, pressing my feet onto his shoulders, startling him, then with the leverage I flew up, turning in a wide arc with my left leg, sending a wave of fire to bat the engrams away. My fingers hooked to the wall's many cracks while someone high above us yelled at the flaming engrams I sent back, why did it sound familiar? Who did Vlad hire for this?

"Heads up!" I gasped, Zane flew right past me, stomping hard into the concrete and providing me and Morbin was a pathway to climb, how he managed to run up the wall vertically was astounding but I didn't have time to gawk, I was losing, I may not have alot of it, but my pride was on the line here

"Wow, he certainly knows how to fire you up." Ghost remarked slyly, but I ignored him. "Hmph, no denial."

"Why when it's, true!" I yelled, slamming a foot into a fissure, then with a heave, I clawed my way up only to throw my head back immediately at the sight of a swordfish scratching the rim of my helmet, although it missed I heard it slam into Morbin below with a solid 'clang'. "Sorry!"

"Not this way! Not this way!" Zane bellowed, screaming as he ran... back down the wall? My face paled soon after I caught sight of, and I cannot stress this enough, a boulder tumbling down the tower!

I too screamed, sinking a hand into the wall, then with my right hand I grabbed Zane by the cape, swinging him to hang below me whilst we watched the boulder soar past us frame-by-frame, Morbin himself hanging just below Zane, his head poking up at me.

"WHAT THE [BEEP]!?" I could agree, this was excessive, I don't even know how that got up there, whoever was doing this had too much free time on their hands

"It's like a freaking wall of horrors!" Zane trembled as I pulled him up in my arm, holding onto him tightly, that same tingling sensation of his Light coursing over my body. "T-Thank you..."

"Let's call it a truce until we find out who's behind this, sound fair?" I suggested, with both guys agreeing immediately to the plan


"Look who's finally here, congrats!" Are. You. Serious right now?

Poking their heads outside a large, rectangular hole in the wall was Dimitri, smiling devilishly with her hair dancing in the wind. Beside her, Taka was watching us, although she looked at me with a neutral smile, I can see her sweating at my firey glare under my helmet, my eyes glowing through the helmet.

"Sorry about this but Vlad insisted on our help," Taka...!

"I got another batch of green engra-a-a-ams..." It was him, Jay. His armor looked far better since the last time we spoke, he looked to be handling himself with that box of engrams. Upon seeing me he trembled. "M-Miss Dimitri? Y-you never s-said it was Ceres!"

"Oh? I guess I didn't, whoops," Dimitri shrugged, wrapping an arm around the boy as his faced burned with embarrassment, either for helping them kill me, Zane, and Morbin, or because he wasn't used to this much close contact with a girl. "Well, what's done is done! Welcome to the dark side, Kid!"

"So all this time, you were trying to kill me? Your awesome brother?" At Zane's plea, another couple of daggers were thrown his way, imbedding into the wall around his hands. "Hehehe... I'm scared now."

"You should, I missed a Mayhem tournament because of this but hey..." We all gulped at the red glow in the Huntress' eyes. "...This is just as relaxing..."

"Sorry about this, but... boop." Taka then pressed a button on a remote, and I swung myself around like a door, a square shape in the wall flicking up like a hatch, my girly scream made Morbin laugh, until one opened up under his fingers, throwing him back

"AHHHHHHHHHhhhhh...!" His anguish plummeted around 500 meters down, his body tumbling against the wall, but at the velocity he built, we saw his body ragdoll off the wall and into the trees somewhere. Ouch.

"Haha!" Zane successfully avoided his own by twirling around to grab onto my legs, while the added weight was annoying and the strain my Light started to have I was still able to hold on. Or so I thought, with Taka smiling alongside the evil chuckles of Dimitri, and Jay simply turned his head in shame. "Hehe... she has another button, doesn't she?"

"Do I?" Taka taunted us, while I shakily held on for dear life, Zane himself gulping, shaking his head in denial

"...Maybe...?" I winced

"I'm going to push it." Her thumb shifted over the button

"Don't you push it." I begged, my hands holding on tighter

"I'ma do it!" Dimitri snatched the remote from the taunting Taka, her smile never wavering while she rested her cheek in her palm

"Don't you do it!" Zane and I begged her, both of us wrapping our arms around each other as a large strip of the wall opened up, and we were sent falling back down the 500 meters we crawled our way up to. The scream of the wind all but drowned out our own screams as we hit the ground with a flash of black and white

...

"...Okay, maybe we need to try something new." I heard Ghost after only a moment of death


This time we were going to make it to the top, our race aside this had to end. If we could make it past them we're home free, but Dimitri was far more persistent than I realized, and with Taka and Jay to back her up she wasn't without a second idea. We had to think ahead, use her methods against her and move forward!

"Come back for round two!? Fine by me!" We heard her bark down from up-high, another array of objects tumbling against the wall as we ran up the sloped surface, Zane taking the lead while punching objects out of our way. A trapdoor flung up, Zane's hands pressed to the surface with his legs folded

Morbin took the lead, planting his feet against Zane's, bracing as his body was thrown higher and out of the range of any more obstacles. He hovered toward the wall, slamming his fists into the cracks, sending a surge of Void through the systems within, that caused some of the trapdoors to go haywire, revealing the ones we couldn't quite see. From here I ran up his back, pushing off his shoulder as Dimitri stared back at me, my eyes trained on them while I turned mid-air, waist twisting around with my left foot poised.

"Hyyyah!" In a similar fashion as before, my leg discharged a large wave of flames into the window, not enough to hurt them, but now their view was obscured. With my body finally out of a boost, I nearly plummeted to my doom again, say for Zane's hand reaching out to grab mine, his feet planted inside the window, all while I was curved around to grab ahold of Morbin's, flinging him up as we pulled Zane along like a chain, flying right over the trappers and onto the safety of the Tower's walls

"We made it!" Zane cheered, the three of us letting go, his feet sending a burst of electricity through the wall with each thunderous step. "But I'm winning this!"

"Fat chance, Worst One!" Morbin dug his hands into the stone, pushing up with enough pull of gravity to tear the concrete out from under him

"...!" I said nothing, my body burning brighter while I left a trail of fire with each meter I ran, my hands working to pull me up faster, throwing chunks of concrete back down onto my competitors. Good thing this section of the wall was under repairs, Zavala would kill us

The top of the Tower was so close now that my heart practically burned, with every ounce of my Light converted into fire I pushed every shred of it into my feet, leaping high with an initial thrust of power, soaring higher than either one of them could perform. The clouds were becoming visible again, white stone turning into a flat surface in the blink of an eye.

Upon reaching the top, my eyes stared out toward the curvature of the world, the Traveler dividing that line while the sounds of the city below reached me from up here, I felt a state of serenity pass over me, watching the world go by with the bright blue sky and the shimmering sun above me. I landed, skidding to a halt while my mark blew in the breeze, my body's flames slowly dying while I continued to watch the city from afar, panting from exerting my power.

"Quite the view, isn't it?" Morbin asked, moving round to cross his arms, body coated in dust and other objects that stained his armor. "Not many come up here and yet I still managed to lose despite knowing the best way up -THAT IS UPSETTING- But yeah... good view."

"It is..." I sat down, crossing my legs to watch while my body relaxed, utilizing my Light for so long had exhausted me but I didn't care, this breathtaking view was enough to satisfy me

"I'm getting tired of falling from high places..." Zane crawled up to us, crying while flopping over onto his back, looking back at me as I tilted my head

"That's just sad." Morbin shook his head

"You okay? Sorry about... well, knocking you down a couple... hundred stories." I apologized meekly, but he raised a hand

"Nope, totally fair I did throw that swordfish at you." It was him?

"Where did they -I YEARN FOR A BLOOD FEUD- Yeah, what he said I guess." Morbin facepalmed, myself giggling at his constant switches between himself and Krieg

"Crazy how it's only been four months now." I reminisced on the time, and yet I feel as though it's been longer, perhaps that's just how it feels around everyone, including these two, I couldn't have asked for two better teammates and friends

"Heh, it's really fun though." Zane hummed, holding a hand up to the sky, his left arm acting as a pillow under his head

Turning my head to him, then up at the stoic Exo who continued to watch the city with us without complaint, then back at the Traveler, without it, this wouldn't be possible, and... would we have ever met? If the Darkness, the Collapse, and so-on never came around, would me, Zane, and Morbin have met someday? It sometimes startles me, wondering if this was all some elaborate dream I'd wake up from, and I'm happy it isn't if this was a dream I don't think I'd want to wake up.

Propping myself with my arms behind me, I gave an answer. "Yeah... It is."

To Be Continued In Act V...


And so Act IV is finally complete, with the main focus of this Book finally arriving... in two weeks, I do need a break every-now-and-then. I hope you enjoyed it, and thank you all for the amazing support, seeya in the next act, Guardians!

Next Act: Act V - The Dark Below

The Dawning season is here and while the City is in high spirits for the holidays, the battle with the Darkness rages on. Eris has unsettling news from an informant on the Moon, the Hidden Swarm are now driven to resurrecting their Hive Prince, Crota, Son of Oryx. Now, they must venture into what lurks in the dark below.