Alright, and here's the latest chapter in this collection, specifically taking an event that I've only really hinted at in other stories: the fight between the Galactic Gravemind/Galactimind (fuck I need a better name for that) and the Republic Supreme Commander and Separatist Ruler.
Honestly, the reason I've avoided doing this previously is because I didn't think I could do such a scene justice (I'm still not sure how well I did now either). I mean, this is a fight with what is effectively three nigh-omnipotent gods, and I wanted this battle to reflect that. So if it gets ridiculous or just flat out insane, well that was the intent I was going for.
Disclaimer: I do not own Halo or any other franchise that appears in this story. I do own my OCs.
They had finally done it: it had taken the efforts of agents from both the Republic and Separatists, but they were able to claim all the artifacts designed by the Ancients, supposedly meant to help destroy the Flood.
According to the data from the Ancient logs, the faction had known that the Republic Supreme Commander and Separatist Ruler would come to be with such power, and that said power could be used to destroy the Flood if it could be controlled.
The small pyramidal devices looked like they were made of stone with a strange blue crystal on top. On the surface, they seemed like simple constructions, but they channeled and amplified power into a destructive effect that solely targeted Neural Physics constructs, which included most Precursor structures and the Flood themselves.
Some scientists had asked why the Ancients hadn't gifted the Forerunners with these to use with the Halo Array, but it seemed that the Ancients could only make these devices work if either of the two superpower leaders were to use them.
Even with their best efforts, no one had any idea how these things were created, not even the two leaders themselves. Still, from the Ancient logs, one thing was clear; they needed to use these things at the heart of the Flood, this Galactic Mind in order for them to truly wipe out the infection. And not a moment too soon.
After five years, the Flood were slowly grinding down on the factions of the IDA, and even the Republic and Separatists were getting strained from the numbers of several universes. Strangely, the Gravemind seemed to be encircling every faction, instead of immediately aiming for a decapitation strike like military analysts had assumed they would.
Now though, things were changing. Star Roads had started to appear in the outskirts of the multiverse, rendering even the fleets of the superpowers helpless to the Parasite. The Supreme Commander and the Ruler each had the power to destroy Star Roads themselves, but they couldn't be everywhere at once. They had to go to the source with these artifacts and destroy the Parasite from there. It seemed like it would be a relatively simple task, especially with the known coordinates of this being.
Naturally, their first inclination that things were going wrong was when they emerged from their long range teleportation three billion light years from their destination, which incidentally gave them a good view of the scale they were up against.
"I'm starting to feel less confident about this." The Republic Supreme Commander muttered.
They had known just how large it was from the Ancient logs, but actually seeing in person really put the scale in perspective. It was a huge shell of Flood biomass surrounding a billion lightyear in diameter galaxy. Trillions upon trillions of Star Roads and other Precursor artifacts were woven into its form, creating gigantic tentacles the length of galaxies.
The very fabric of space and time seemed to warp around this being, forming cracks and tears in reality, no doubt of its own creation. A gigantic head emerged in the 'center' of the galaxy, and turned toward them.
"You are naught but dust and dreams," its voice came from everywhere, in every form of communication imaginable, penetrating the very minds of both gods. "defacing my design. Patience is gone, your time now done," two streaks hurtled towards them at billions of times the speed of light, and both barely had time to destroy the literal shooting stars an instant before they impacted. Despite this, it wasn't even concerned. "For all reality is mine!"
"I'm guessing you can't teleport any closer?" The Separatist Ruler asked, his Republic counterpart, who shook his head. "Yeah, me neither."
"I guess we're doing this the hard way then." The Supreme Commander said. "This thing thinks we're nothing to it." Blue-white energy began glowing around him. "Let's disabuse it of that notion, shall we."
The two turned into massive streaks hurtling toward the abomination. It didn't fail to notice this, as massive tears in reality intercepted their paths, forcing them to either maneuver around or deal with them, as the very fabric of reality tore apart in their battle.
...
It had taken them hours to get through to the Gravemind's body itself, and that certainly hadn't been an easy task. Several times, either one or both had been knocked off course, or even displaced to an entirely separate plane of reality, forcing more and more delays.
But eventually they had managed to break through the shell and into the galaxy itself. And already the two gods were horrified. Stars and planets were connected by either more star roads, massive tendrils of Flood biomass, or both, creating a massive maze of an internal structure.
But it was the species within that provided the most horror. Millions upon millions of unknown species existed on several worlds, suffering through agony and pain beyond comprehension. The worst part was how easily they let themselves suffer this fate, as sacrifices and torture victims at the whims of the Flood. They had known absolutely nothing else other than this.
This was what the Flood wanted, why they let reality exist. Why they went with all these machinations and schemes to cause war and strife instead of just unmaking the multiverse in an instant. They wanted torment, they wanted suffering, and didn't care how long it would take to get there.
They had to end this, one way or another. Unfortunately, the Gravemind wasn't going to make that easy. Energy blasts, tears in reality, and massive tentacles moved to block their passage at every turn, and the interior of the abomination was a literal maze.
"Why don't we just do it here?" The Separatist Ruler pointed out, as he destroyed another tentacle and grunted as another blast hit him. "Does it really matter where it happens?"
"We only have one chance with this." The Supreme Commander replied. "I'd rather find the heart of this thing in order to be certain."
"At the rate we're going, the rest of the multiverse won't last long." His counterpart argued. "If we don't do this soon, there won't be anyone left to save."
"And if we do do this wrong, it'll just start all over again." A tear in reality opened, and promptly was dealt with by the duo.
"Then we need to clear a path."
The Separatist Leader briefly gathered his power, then unleashed it, creating an effect equivalent to the Halo that disintegrated every form of Flood and Precursor structure in its wake. Unfortunately, the effect fell far short of what the two had been hoping, only clearing 100,000 lightyears as opposed to the 100 million he had been going for.
To make matters worse, the damage was already starting to regenerate, and an angry roar reverberated throughout the Gravemind's body as the two rushed to clear through the path as fast they could. They were beset upon by more attacks than they had suffered by three orders of magnitude.
"I think you made it angry."
"Isn't that good?" The Separatist Ruler countered. "It focuses more attention on us than the rest of the multiverse."
"... Can't argue with that." The two found their path blocked, and the Republic Supreme Commander sighed. "I've got this one." Charging up his power, he let loose more energy than his counterpart had previously, only to find the result had been even less impressive. "This is going to take a while."
...
Eventually, they had made it to what could technically count as the 'heart' of this being's body in the center of this galaxy. Billions of stars and black holes existed here, connected by massive strands of star roads and Flood biomatter. On the whole, the closest description the two gods could compare this too was a huge diseased brain (which was more or less what it was).
The two had flown into the center of this structure, which hadn't gone unnoticed. The Gravemind's attacks were constant now, an unrelenting bombardment of esoteric and reality breaking attacks. The two leaders were starting to feel the strain, and knew that they couldn't hold it off forever.
They needed to end this quickly.
The Republic Supreme Commander summoned the artifacts, which formed up in multiple orbiting circles that surrounded him. Meanwhile, the Separatist Ruler created a barrier around the gathering, which was absorbing everything the Gravemind could throw at it.
Massive bolts of lightning the length of galaxies, alongside other strange and unnatural attacks, battered at the barrier, forcing the Separatist leader to visibly struggle against the strain.
"If not by one, then infinite, all called forth to comply. The timeless song won't be undone. In this grave you die!"
"Can you hurry up?!" The Separatist leader shouted, as visible cracks appeared in the barrier. "I can't hold this for much longer!"
The Republic Supreme Commander didn't reply, having been gathering his power and pouring it into the artifacts, which were already cracking from the strain. Still, they were doing what they were meant to; focusing on the unrestrained and uncontrolled energy at the Flood and all Precursor structures and amplifying its lethality.
Eventually, the Supreme Commander couldn't hold the power any longer, and just before the Gravemind shattered the barrier, he unleashed the concentrated power, shattering the artifacts in the process.
The result was almost immediate: the energy instantly destroyed every bit of neural physics creation around them, spreading through the massive galaxy and cleansing it of all Flood and Precursor structures.
But the wave didn't stop, not even faltering for an instant as it propagated throughout the multiverse, releasing Flood cleansing waves through every corner of reality. The two gods on the other hand, were hurled away by the epicenter of their power, crashing through the now empty and lifeless galaxy before landing on asteroid.
"Did we do it?" The Supreme Commander asked, lying on the cratered surface as he struggled to rise to his feet. The whole battle had been draining to him. "Please tell that it worked."
"Yeah." He looked up to see his Separatist counterpart staggering towards him, offering a hand to pull him up. The Republic leader accepted the aid and allowed his former enemy to pull him to his feet. "Yeah, I think we did it."
Moments later, two fleets appeared in the vicinity, belonging to the two superpowers. They could feel the celebratory moods, and knew that it had worked, that the nightmare of the Flood was finally over.
At least until it returns five years later. So yeah, that was the battle between gods... I'm still not sure I wrote it so well, and I'm the one who came up with the idea. Honestly, this would be the kinda battle that require billions of dollars in special effects to do in this one scene alone.
Anyway, the Gravemind's quotes in this were taken from Gatekeeper333's story Spartan Effect, which if you haven't read, I would seriously recommend doing so right now.
But yeah, this is the moment where the Great Flood War ends in the multiverse. Now don't worry, this collection is not finished with, not by a long shot. In fact, I do have big plans for this, which will come about later.
All I can say is; I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, and reviews are always welcome.