CHAPTER XXIV: BATTLE
The rocket flew through the smoke and destroyed the pillars beneath the platform. Unable to support the Arachnotron's weight, it collapsed and fell into the pool of hot mud that was already filled with debris. A Baron of Hell roared in anger as he saw the small human figure run by and jump up to a higher section of the damaged platform. The chaos of the fierce battle that had broken out in the great hall was deafened by Baphomet's maddening laughter. Before the human figure could take cover, five new demons had already joined the combat.
You, marine, do not know how that battle looked like from my point of view – it looked like a rather amusing hunt that posed one frail human against an unlimited number of Hell's strongest minions. Watching the destruction unleashed I tried to estimate the extent of destruction that the palace would sustain. The good thing was that once you were dead, the demonic servitors would be quite motivated to make all necessary repairs throughout the damaged facilities of Hell. Oh, I longed for the moment when you would finally fall and allow us to finish what had been started so long ago! I was overjoyed to see you overwhelmed by the endless infernal hordes as they came summoned by their Master. I wanted to take part in the battle so much, yet I felt that access for us was blocked by my Lord's magic.
The hall was filled with smoke; the hanging darkness was interrupted by frequent explosions and discharges of plasma. It was a matter of time before you would run out of ammo and succumb to the swarms that hunted you relentlessly. Many demons had already fallen but there were hundreds that would come to replace them. It seemed that you had realized that because you tried to find a way out of your desperate situation, a last attempt to outrun the inevitable. The battle seemed to go so well and according to our desires... and then something happened.
Destiny is cruel, and apparently, it had decided that we would fail again! I do not know what force attracted you to the alcove where the control panel used by the palace majordomo was located. Desperately seeking salvation, you pulled that switch and activated the mechanism that raised the focal pillar used for special acts of summoning. At first I did not think that would change anything at all, but shortly afterwards dark suspicions filled my mind. Baphomet had assumed the summoning position and the opened Orifice of Summoning was a potential vulnerability. The focal pillar could be used against that weakness by someone desperate enough of such an attempt. Someone like you.
It is a long way from the top platform to the mud pit, and therefore you decided to make your own shortcut by using the last charge of the BFG to melt and collapse the lower platforms, forming a quick way for you to slide down. Baphomet's thunderous voice ordered the troops to block your path. You killed those warriors with your last chaingun bullets and the rocket launcher was the last weapon that you had available. The other damaged platforms were groaning threateningly as the Mancubi tried to move closer and shoot their fireballs at you. Relying entirely on your heavily worn out boots you trudged clumsily through the boiling slime that, by the way, was specially prepared for your arrival. Still, the boots resisted long enough for you to lower the pillar and climb on it. It was them that the tragedy truly began.
At first, I found your going up and down quite funny and helpless – the Cacodemons and Pain Elementals were already preparing to finish you off. It was then that something somehow turned your attention towards the Orifice and gave you the idea to shoot there, in the hope of inflicting damage upon the source of the endless demonic invasion. A slow movement of the hand, pulling the trigger and a missile flew right into the Orifice.
I fell to the ground as a wave of pain struck me. A powerful tremor shook the whole palace as ripples of energy were released from an unknown source. Baphomet's laughter was replaced by a booming roar of anger and pain. The surprise and hatred that rose within my Master made him forget his intricate schemes and give the signal for the Gatekeepers to enter the hall and destroy the human. My brothers prepared to enter the chamber and then... I hesitated. I stopped in the middle of the gesture and thought: it was apparent to me that a powerful ancient force was protecting you, a force that could contend even with the might of the Elder worlds. I was not sure whether I could stand against such might, I was not sure it was right to stand against it. And I knew for sure that I was not supposed to have such thoughts.
My brothers entered the hall. Did you see them? No... I guessed so – they appeared in the rear end of the hall and you could not turn around and see them. When I saw them moving towards you, preparing spells of destruction I shook off all doubts and hesitation and stepped forward towards...
A second missile hit its target.
A powerful explosion, more powerful than anything I had ever seen or imagined echoed through the whole realm. I saw, as if in a dream, the whole palace beneath me explode into a roaring cataclysm of unleashed fury that spread throughout Hell, bringing terrible destruction upon its surface. Through the shroud of pain, I felt tidal waves of molten metal and falling meteors ravage the continents of Hell. Erupting volcanoes and tremendous quakes appeared everywhere and filled the air with thick smoke. The pain was even greater when I saw a small green human figure jump into the collapsing Gate that Baphomet had opened to summon demons from the Earth. I realized that you had escaped your doom once again and were back on Earth. Seconds after that another tremor caused a shower of burning debris to fall upon me. All faded to black...
The awakening was slow and rather painful. As I rose from the piles of deformed pieces of stone and metal, I tried to realize what had just happened. I looked around in an attempt to distinguish clear shapes. A burning crater could be seen where the Citadel of the Icon of Sin was just some moments ago. Or... how long had I remained buried under the debris? I quickly dismissed the question as there was something more disturbing than all the destruction around me.
I could not sense the presence of my Master and my brothers.
They were gone. I was all alone among the ruins of my realm and the disarrayed remnants of the infernal legions. Even though the loss was great, I could not feel anything like you humans do. My only thought was to organize the demons and bring some semblance of order. A while later, I saw several Barons running towards the site of the catastrophe. They were not pleased to find me – the only survivor of the drama that had taken place there. They wanted me to come with them and try to assume control over Hell. Control? I was struggling to stay awake!
Baphomet's death had caused unprecedented eruptions of raw energy and chaotic power. In such a volatile storm I could not concentrate on what was going on, I could not use my powers, a cacophony of noises filled my mind. I told the Barons that I could not do anything until the energies settled. They agreed that they would need time to check the ruins and bring as many demons as possible from Earth. The thought of the Invasion's failure did not bother me as I was overcome with exhaustion. The Barons took me to a crypt that had remained intact during the cataclysm and left me there to rest. They departed and promised that they would return when I felt better.
The following months were hard. I was told that there had been gatherings, bitter arguments, expeditions, opening of random Gates so that survivors from Earth could be evacuated, and, of course, the building of the Stronghold. The Stronghold was the gathering point for all survivors – a huge hive-like infernal fortress that was built on the relatively preserved plains of Inferno. Protected by steel walls and trenches filled with molten metal, it was the last bastion of demonic power, where every minion of Hell was ordered to come. In order to have room for all survivors, a vast network of crypts was built under the Stronghold. The Barons and Hell Knights had done an amazing job even without a leader to guide them. And when I finally awoke, there was another surprise for me.
One of my brothers was also alive.
As the vast energy disturbance had ended, we were able to assume control over the Stronghold. We both felt an emptiness inside as our Master was dead and Hell's glory shattered forever. We had succeeded in evacuating most of our troops from Earth and there were additional encampments built near the Stronghold. All tomes and weapons that were salvageable had been gathered in the locked armory of the mighty fortress and were to be carefully examined and catalogued by us. We also wanted to make attempts to repair the Unholy Cathedral that was relatively unscathed by the catastrophe. Dis and the Hell Keep were heavily damaged by the tidal waves of the burning seas of Hell, and their reconstruction would require many years of work and resources that were not available at the time. Our scouts surveyed the ravaged smaller continents and islands and rescued many of the warlocks that pledged our loyalty to us. As things seemed to be stabilizing, it was time to decide on the future of Hell and its survivors.
My brother and I analyzed the situation. All parts of Hell, except for the central areas of Inferno, were heavily damaged and practically lost. All combat activity on Earth had been stopped and humanity had started to return to their ravaged planet. The Gateway to Hell in the city was sealed so there was no danger of human assaults against us. With the magical storms that had raged throughout the realm, it would be impossible for the humans to open one of their crude unstable Gates, and therefore Hell was safe for the time being. While it was good that we had stabilized and secured our home world, the question of its future still stood before us. I had the bad feeling that our views about it would contradict.
I felt clearly that my brother knew something that I did not. To my credit, I had knowledge of the Iron Tower, so I still had some advantage. Each of us had to share his idea with the Barons that were gathered to take part in the making of the decision. It was decided that my brother would start first.
He knew much about the secret outpost that, supposedly, was the hiding place of the Ice Weasel. He claimed that the outpost's crypts contained great power secured there by Baphomet. That outpost was on one of the moons of the great planet just beyond Mars. The name of that moon was Io and there already was a crude human colony that was undergoing expansion. My brother planned to take over that colony and claim the power of the secret outpost. He also stated that he had a plan of quick and easy invasion that would allow us to maintain a mobile base of our own near the colony, so that the plan could be brought to fruition quickly. The key point in that plan was a demonic spaceship, an ancient vessel known as the Evilution – an enormous construct built in ages long-forgotten from the magically charged stone, metal, flesh and bone that were abundant in Hell. That spaceship could surprise the humans, after a few preliminary attacks through a Gate were made for the purpose of distraction. My brother would control the ship assuming the role of its central core – a great machine able to control such a huge mechanical entity. I did not like this – I considered this to be an inferior transformation for a Gatekeeper, that we should use our pure form, entirely focused on the summoning and command of demonic troops. Yet my brother was convinced that his plan was the only way to restore Hell's glory and bring swift revenge upon the humans.
I could not agree – that plan had too many risky points to be used with confidence. I also despised the idea of my brother becoming the heart and soul of a mechanical construct, knowing that he would possibly be doomed to stay in that inferior incarnation for all eternity, bound to control the Evilution, with his summoning skills diminishing over time. I believed that my plan would be better as I had clear vision of what I wanted to achieve and what I would need to do it, while the other Gatekeeper was not completely sure about what could be found in that outpost. I stepped forth and disclosed my plan.
Everyone was quite shocked as they heard about the Iron Tower and its secrets. A quick visit to the place proved that it really existed, and I even let them take a look at the first floor. Before they could shake off the surprise, I told them what I intended: overrun a human facility where I would gain control of quantum accelerator devices and use them, in conjunction with Void spheres, to breach the Shield, claim the Elder runes, and use their power to restore Hell... and even make an attempt to bring Baphomet back to life, though He would be much weakened. I added that the runes' power could also be used to destroy the human who was responsible for the disaster.
As my brother expressed his disapproval of my "impossible and reckless plan," the Barons decided that it should be us, the Gatekeepers that would decide what should be done. We quarreled for a long time. None of us was willing to give ground and accept the other's position. We knew that we could not allow dissension among the denizens of Hell and only one strategy had to be followed. We did not reach agreement.
The Barons frowned and discussed something in private. They called the warlocks and disputed something with them as well. Finally, the elder warlock came to us and stated that the current situation could only be resolved with the elimination of one of the rivaling points of view. A ritual combat would be held and the one of us who survived it would become the new ruler of Hell and carry on his plan for restoring its lost glory.
I sighed – I had never imagined that I would one day have to participate in a deadly ritual duel with one of my brothers. The warlocks announced the time of the battle and there was no way I could refuse it without losing my honor and being banished from Hell forever. The time was desperate and desperate measures had to be taken. I had to win the fight.
To do this, I had to kill my brother.