Paladins x Overwatch Chapter 17

Author note: Three reworks and a new champion this patch. I really like the new Lex. But I see no reason to nerf Fernando. RIP Flanknando.

Soldier 76 walked idly through a small highway tunnel. This was Jacks chance to return Overwatch to it´s former glory and wash his name clean. If he would catch Junkrat and that other guy in the name of Overwatch people would trust them again. The tunnel became darker and darker. From the last light he could see that the walls were covered in plants and the smooth tunnel walls eventually became rough stone. He activated the nigh vision on his visor. Soldier 76 slowly advanced into tunnel until he kicked a small object with his right foot. He looked down and saw a single small bone laying on the ground. He picked it up and mustered it. The bone was a bit smaller than his hand but it´s form was unfamiliar to him.

Soldier 76: What the...?

Jack could see the light of the other end so he raised up and moved on. He put the bone in his pocket to research it later. Just out of curiosity. The end of the tunnel was more like the end of a cave. After a few minutes he stepped outside into a forest. The sun was bright, shining on the trees and other plants Jack had never seen. He took a step back and turned around to go back.

Soldier 76: I don´t know what this is but I´m wrong here. He walked back trough the tunnel but after a few meter Jack noticed another cave originating from the tunnel.

Soldier 76: That wasn´t there before.

He peeked into the cave. It was hard to see even with the night vision, so he walked into the cave with his pulse rifle ready to shoot at anything. After a few steps he heard heavy breathing. Soldier 76 focused on the direction of the sound and noticed the silhouette of a sleeping creature in the darkness, around 3 feet tall. He backed away from the creature and kicked another bone on the ground. The creature snorted but didn´t wake up. After Jack successfully sneaked out of the creatures reach without stepping on another bone he turned around, where four small blue eyes stared at him.

Androxus barely stood straight up. He didn´t know how long he had passed out. He checked himself and his surroundings. The revolver was still in it´s holster with 1 bullet left in the barrel. His sword was laying on the ground with it´s blade shattered. Everything about him hurt, but he was alive and he killed a god. It was still dark in Nyx palace. With his last strength he walked toward the gate where a single beam of sunlight. The first time in his life he would see the sun. When he reached the gate, he wanted to touch the sunbeam with his right hand. But the moment he touched it, it burned on his skin. Androxus pulled the hand away and saw his hand getting gray and form into claws. Green veins appeared over his hand. He watched the process in shock until it stopped. Then he felt a slight tingling all over his face. He immediately realized what it was and ran away from the gate as fast as he could with his injuries. He came back to the wasteland of a battlefield the palace had become. He sat down behind a fallen pillar, hiding from the light while staring at his hand.

Androxus: No...

Hours passed and it eventually became night. Androxus opened the gate and stepped outside. He was back in the desert. With the village in sight. There was nobody outside. Everyone was sleeping. Androxus began walking back to the village. He ripped a big piece off of his coat to cover his face from the moonlight. It was still a long way but he didn´t want to overexert himself. He heard a loud growling from the sky so he started to walk faster but a second later a lightning struck right next to him. From the crater emerged a being Androxus had seen before in books. Vex, the lightning god.

Vex: You are the one who dared to execute the goddess of night?

Androxus: Yes.

Vex: You admitting to the crime of killing a god?

Androxus: You call that a crime? See for your-

Vex: Your reasons do not matter. A mortal is not allowed to interfere with the gods and you will be punished.

Vex pointed his finger at the sky. Androxus took a fighting stance, ready to be attacked. Vex snapped his finger and thunder could be heard from far away. Androxus waited but nothing happened. Until he heard screams from the distance. He turned around to the source of this noise. A lightning had hit the village, drowning it in a sea of flames. Many screams became louder and louder before they became silent.

Vex: May your soul linger in this body for a long time, being consumed by your guilt and sorrow. This will be your punishment. Another lightning struck down and Vex was gone. Androxus just stared into the flames. After a while he turned around, looking at the night mask covered with sand.

Androxus: Guilt? How can I feel guilty? What have they done to us? What have they ever done for us?

He heard something breathing beside him. It was his horse. He must have escaped from the stable. Androxus walked up to the wounded horse and stroke it´s hair. This is what he always liked about animals. They were simple, reliable.

Soldier 76 ran through the tunnel with a whole pack of beasts behind him. They had wide mouths with many sharp teeth and horns, purple skin and small thorns on their back. Jack peeked behind him. He counted 10 of them.

Soldier 76: If I go further they will reach the city.

He stopped running and shot behind him before fully turning around. He hit the first one which stumbled and fell. But beasts where too close and one of them jumped at him. Soldier 76 blocked the claw with his rifle. The beast pushed him down. It was just as strong as him. And the others followed.

Hanzo once again broke into Shimada Castle to pray for his brother. He sneaked his way on the roof and dropped on the balcony without anyone noticing. He walked through the corridor to his place before the sword display. When he reached the door there was someone already in the room. A young man with black hair and red and white clothes. He wandered around the room and mustered the wall paintings. Hanzo stepped back from the door and hid behind the frame. But one hasty move made his bow knock against the wall and the man heard it. He turned around and took the bow from his back.

Sha lin: Who is there?!

Hanzo kept quiet and sneaked away from the door. He heard footsteps coming closer and the moment Sha Lin walked through the door Hanzo kicked his leg from the side to get him on his knees and strangled him from behind with his bow.

Hanzo: What are you doing here?

Sha Lin didn´t answer and just tried to escape the grip. Hanzo loosened the grip and pointed an arrow at him instead.

Hanzo: Speak!

Sha Lin: I´m sorry. I thought this castle was left behind by the thousand hands.

Hanzo: What do you mean by thousend hands?

Sha Lin: The old Shimada clan still exists?

Torvald note: Gorlocks are four-legged creatures with horns and thorns all over their body. About 3 – 5 feet height, 6 – 9 feet length. They usually live in big colonies inside volcanic caves. Due to their lack off pupils they have four eyes. Two for the dark caves and two for the daylight. Their eyes wet themselves with special glants, but they are unable to blink which makes it easy to blind them with flashing light. Gorlocks hunt in smaller packs to feed the colony. Every member of a colony has the same rank and is oranized by itself. They eat almost everything including humans elves and dragons meat.

Author note: Junkertown is my city.