Greetings. We are back again and it is time for more stuff. I hope you all are enjoying this year's Guardian Games. Unless you're a Hunter. Or a Titan. Then I hope you're miserable.


Chapter 35: Rally the Troops

"The slaves of the Darkness think they have the ultimate power of the Universe on their side. Let them believe what they want. We have guns on ours." -The Paladin


It had been a few weeks since they arrived on the island. The Witches had settled in as well as they could, given the circumstances. A community had been built, like a smaller version of Bonesborough. People moved through the streets, trying to live as normally as they could.

Paladin walked on the ramparts of the walls they had raised. The construction Witches had proven especially useful there. A few Coven scouts saluted him as he walked past, a gesture Paladin returned. Resting his hands on the edge of the wall, he looked out over the waters.

"Still no sign of her?"

Paladin glanced to his side, seeing Steve approach. The Witch had become the de facto leader of what was left of the Emperor's Coven. Seeing as he was the highest-ranking member left and was almost universally liked and respected, it was only logical. Paladin shook his head and turned back to the water.

"You should go after her," Thatch said, "I don't think it's wise to leave Venator unsupervised."

"She'll be back," he said. Thatch and Steve shared a glance. Every time they brought the matter up, that was his exact response. Venator wasn't the only one being stubborn, Paladin wanted her to come crawling back. It was like the Royals were engaged in their own war of silence.

"Well, moving on," Steve said, "Everything is going well in town. Our current food stores are stable and we're getting farms set up."

"Our footing is secure," Paladin nodded, "Now, we need to continue strengthening our position. We need to prepare a defense force."

"A standing military?" Steve questioned. Paladin nodded once more.

"The scouts present are capable, but not numerous enough."

"I'll send out a message," Steve promised, "Gather up some recruits."


A Goblin dropped to the ground, a knife sticking out of its optic. Its body twitched before finally succumbing to its wounds. Venator stalked over and dragged the blade out of its eye. Sheathing the blade, she cloaked herself and slipped into a canyon. Moving through the rocky area, she ducked into a hidden cave.

Removing her helmet and setting it aside, she pulled out the most recent pictures she had taken of the pyramid. The far wall of the cave was covered in similar pictures. Venator had been studying the pyramid relentlessly for weeks, searching for a way in.

"Royal, please, I implore you to reconsider," Blip said, "Now is not the time to be petty."

"At least I'm doing something," Venator snapped, "Now, what do we know about the pyramid?"

Blip sighed, "The outside remains impermeable, as far as we know. However, the craft does respond to the Collector, allowing him to enter and exit at will."

"Any idea why?"

"I hypothesize that it may be due to his powers of Darkness."

"I wonder…" Venator pulled out her hand cannon, holding it before herself.

"You cannot seriously intend to infiltrate the pyramid on your own," Blip objected.

"I can and will!" she shouted, "I don't need Paladin's help! And I definitely don't need you pestering me constantly!" She quickly fell silent as Blip stared at her. Her Ghost faded away, disappearing into transmat.

"Blip… I didn't mean…" she tried to say. She let out a frustrated scream and punched the cave wall, cracking it slightly.

"Good job, babe," a voice said from behind her. Her head whipped around as her Nightmare returned to torment her.

"Leave me alone."

"Alright," she shrugged, "I mean, you've done such a good job isolating yourself so far." Venator flinched at that, looking away.

"You spent your entire life pushing away every soul who was stupid enough to try and care about you," the Nightmare mocked, "How did you think you were gonna end up? Alone. Unwanted. And deservedly unloved."

"Shut up!" Venator pulled out her hand cannon and, without thinking, fired it. The slug of tainted Darkness harmlessly punched through the Nightmare. She lazily looked down, gazing at the spot where the round had entered. Venators hand trembled as Malfeasance dropped from her grasp.

"You just can't help yourself," the Nightmare chastised, shaking her head mournfully.

"I… I didn't mean… I would never…"

"Shhh, it's ok," the Nightmare moved closer to Venator, spreading her arms to embrace the Hunter, "There is nothing you could do that would ever hurt me more than you already have, my love."


King drew in a deep breath, focusing on the shard as it floated before him. The Dark construct radiated an aura of icy coldness. Placing his paws together, King focused on what the Trappers had told him.

"Remember," he muttered, "Look within."

His paws separated as he tried to manifest a crystal. Sadly, nothing appeared, not even a snowflake.

"Whatchya doing?"

King yelped in shock as the Collector grinned down at him. He swiped the shard out of the air as the Disciple lowered himself to the floor.

"Oh hey, I used to use one of those things," the Collector said, pointing to the Crux.

"Really?"

"Yeah," he said, snapping his fingers and summoning a blue crystal in his hand, "It's like a training tool. Mastering the Deep was one of the most important lessons I learned." He clutched the crystal gently.

"It's all about control," the Collector said, "Of both itself and of your own mind. It demands complete focus until, eventually, it becomes second nature. The Deep is about rigidity and stability." His grip tightened until the crystal shattered.

"The Sky, on the other hand, is chaotic and destructive," he said harshly, "Solar is a raging destruction. Arc is erratic and impossible to restrain. And Void is an all-consuming hunger."

King nodded hesitantly, not wanting to voice his objections. He may accidentally say the wrong thing and anger the Collector, which was an outcome he wanted to avoid.

"Maybe I can give you some proper instructions sometimes," the Collector offered cheerfully. Before King could answer, the Collector felt something wash over him. He looked up, knowing that he was being summoned. Bidding goodbye, he swiftly departed, flying through his pyramid until he arrived at the base of a large statue.

The Collector kneeled before the statue and felt a pulse within his mind. The fabric of space shattered before him, cracking like glass. He felt the Deep radiating from the rupture and kept his head down.

"Progress."

"The Lightbearers continue to elude me, my Witness," the Collector said, "I have sent the machine-spawn to deal with it." The Witness remained silent for a moment. The Collectors nerves were spiking.

"You lack conviction, Disciple," the Witness said calmly, "We wonder if your devotion is true."

"Of course it is," the Collector forcefully asserted, looking up. He made eye contact with his master and quickly looked back down in fear.

"You found me when I was nothing," he continued, "Gave me the ability to find myself. I owe all that I am to you."

"We would hate to think you had forgotten. Do not forget what the Sky took from you. It is the Deep that has made you strong."

"Of course, I will not fail you." The Collector kept his gaze low as he felt his master's gaze bore into his head. He suppressed the urge to whimper, knowing that incurring the wrath of the Witness would see him utterly obliterated. His jaw tenses as he tried to hold himself as still as possible.

"See that you do not."

The Witness departed, leaving the Collector alone. Instantly, his pose slackened and the Collector let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in.

"Keep it together," he mumbled, straightening his clothes, "Keep it together."


Paladin marched before the assembled Witches and Demons before him. They stood in a loose formation with varying levels of interest. Clutching his helmet at his side, his optics trailed over the denizens of the Isles. A few Witches cast side-eyed glances at his metallic face. If they had questions, they knew better than to vocalize them.

A few scouts stood in a cluster off to the side. Their uniforms were scuffed and messy, bearing signs of battle. Some of them had even ditched their uniforms altogether, disgusted with the sign of the old Emperor.

Reaching the end of the line, Paladin stopped. He remained rigid for a moment before turning back to face the Witches. They shuffled under his gaze as he seemed to deconstruct them with but a glance. Steve walked over to the Titan, inspecting a list in his hand.

"These are all the volunteers," he said. The Striker nodded and accepted the list.

"Less than half of what I'd hoped," he remarked, "But I've done more with less." He walked in front of all the Witches and tucked his arms behind his back.

"Thank you all for coming here today," his voice boomed, "You have been called upon to serve your kin. To protect your people. The enemy will draw no distinction between civilians and combatants. Therefore, neither can we." He turned to the scouts.

"You know how to fight," he said, "I can teach you how to kill. You know how to capture Wild Witches. I can teach you how to engage Vex units. You know how to follow orders. I can teach you how to issue commands of your own."

"I will not lie to you," he turned back to the citizens, "The coming weeks will be harsh. Many of you will grow to hate me. I would view myself as a failure if this weren't true." The Witches and Demons shared a nervous glance, wondering just what the Guardian had prepared for them.


"Are you sure this will work?" Eda questioned. Lilith nodded hesitantly, continuing to stir her cauldron. She had spent the last few hours preparing the elixir now that they had all the ingredients and they had been properly prepared. She didn't know how King had gotten them and, quite frankly, she didn't think she wanted to.

Grabbing a cup, she scooped out a small sample and held it up to her eyes. She swirled it around to check its viscosity. Once she judged it sufficient, she held it out to her sister. The glowing orange potion bubbled slightly.

"Try this," she said, "It should work."

Eda greedily gulped down the elixir. Her body shifted as the curse receded slightly. Her body shrank a little, though she was still trapped as the Owl Beast. She spat out the potion.

"Oh Titan, that tastes terrible," she complained, "What did you put in that?"

"It seemed to work to a small degree," Lilith noted, "Perhaps it'll be complete with more experimentation."

"We can work on that later," Eda said, "Have you made any progress with your curse?"

Lilith sighed. Over the past few days, Eda had been trying to help Lilith get in touch with her own Raven Beast to see if she could ascend to a similar harpy mode as her sister. Progress had been less than stellar.

"Keep knocking at it," Eda encouraged, "I had to live with my curse for decades, you'll figure it out eventually." Lilith nodded and sat down, resting her body and focusing her mind. She reached into her own subconscious.

Hello? Are you there?

She felt something within her writhe. Could it be the curse finally answering her call? The writhing continued, shifting from mild discomfort to something more painful.

Can you hear me?

"Witch."

Lilith shuddered as the Mind spoke to her. Eda said something from not far away, but Lilith couldn't hear her. She felt the Vex forcing its way through her subconscious. They were drowning out her thoughts with their own.

While the two sisters struggled, Lilith with the Vex and Eda with trying to help her sister, Synegorus rooted through Lilith's memories. It focused on everything she had learned about the Collector and, by extension, the pyramid.

"Very well, Star Child," Synegorus rumbled, "Let us play your game."


Paladin watched from his observation deck as the Witches and Demons ran through the exercises he had listed off for them. His arms were crossed over his chest as he stared at his new recruits. His fingers rhythmically tapped on the plating over his artificial bicep. As he watched, he took notes on which recruits displayed more aptitude than others. They would make for fine officers.

"Our latest reports have come in," Darius said, approaching the Titan from behind, "People are settling in well, though many are requesting that we venture back into the Isles to rescue anyone who got left behind. According to a few parents, some of their children had elected to stay at Hexside during the Day of Unity."

"I understand their worries," Paladin lamented, "But we are in no position to strike at the mainland. We need to lay low and build our strength. Nothing besides that matters."

"And how goes your endeavors here?" Darius turned to watch the recruits, just in time to watch one Witch collapse to the ground in exhaustion, "You seem to be working them remarkably hard."

"It is an ancient technique taught to me by my mentor," Paladin provided, "He called it 'Tough Love'."

"I fail to see the love."

"I got rid of that part."

"Just make sure you don't push them too far," Darius cautioned, "These people aren't Guardians. They have limits."

The Guardian turned to acknowledge Darius's concerns. However, the words died in his throat as he saw a small group approaching him. Steve was at the head, leading a cluster of Witches toward the Titan. He recognized two of the Coven heads, though he didn't know their names.

"Here he is," Steve said as he arrive. He turned to Paladin with an apologetic look on his face, "Sorry about this, they insisted that they needed to speak with you."

"It's alright," Paladin nodded, "Take over for me here." As Steve got himself situated, Paladin turned to the congregation.

"How may I be of assistance."

One Witch stepped forward, bearing a large crescent-shaped hat. Hettie dusted herself off as she met the Titan's gaze, boldly staring into his helmet's face plate.

"It is the request of the people of the Boiling Isles that you explain your plan to them," she said, "So far, we have been led around aimlessly and without direction. In these troubling times, the people need reassurance."

Paladin nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. There was truth to Hettie's words. His actions were necessary, but to those who were watching from the outside, he appeared to be an aloof figure whose presence was felt far more than it was seen. Paladin recalled some of his earliest memories under Shaxx's tutelage, how he had walked among his people and rubbed shoulders with them.

"You are right," the Titan mused, "Perhaps I have been too distant. Gather up as many people as you can. It is time we brought everyone up to the same page."


"Brother."

Royals optics flickered briefly. He felt tired, so unbelievably tired.

"Brother, wake up."

He tried to remember where he was and what he was doing. He had been in the Vex Domain, fighting for a way out. Then… What happened next?

A hand gripped his shoulder, shaking him from his stupor. His optics powered on as he roused from his slumber.

"There he is," a familiar, warm voice said, "Welcome back to the land of the living."

Royal shook his head, clearing the mental fog in his mind. He sat on a throne in a large chamber. The beating heart of the Titan could be heard behind him. Before him were Paladin and Venator, both watching him from behind their helmets. He felt someone place a hand on his shoulder.

"You gave us quite a scare," Champion said, "You just fell silent."

Royal stared up at his Brother, questions racing through his mind. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't place his finger on it.

"Now," Champion clapped his hands together, "Where were we?"

"The residents of the Isles have been pacified," Paladin reported, "Though some still cling to the lies of their false Emperor."

"We're hunting down the last of them now," Venator chimed in, "It won't be long. With their leader in custody, they are directionless."

"Your protege has been a remarkable asset," Champion complimented, "You should be proud of her."

"Of course," Royal muttered, rubbing his scalp. He had a splitting headache. The beating of the Titan's heart pounded inside his metallic skull.

"Are you sure you're alright Brother?"

"I… I need to move," Royal said, "Been sitting still for too long. Get the servos pumping, you know?" Champion cocked an eyebrow but didn't move to stop Royal as he rose from his throne. The Warlock marched out of the room. Once he was out of eyesight, he slumped against the wall. He held out a hand to summon his Ghost.

"Lancer, what's going on?"

The Ghost didn't appear, leaving Royal in silence.

"Alright, think," he muttered, "Context. Escaped the Vex. Defeated Belos. Assumed control. Captured rebel leader." He sighed, rubbing his faceplate.

"None of this feels right."

The Warlock continued to think, trying to rationalize the information he had on hand with his own feelings of discomfort. His head snapped up as he realized where he needed to go.


When Paladin reached the meeting area, he definitely wasn't ready for just how many people would be there. Nor was he ready for them all to be shouting at him so loudly. He would try to get a word in, only to be instantly drowned out.

"So this is why Belos avoided appearing in public," Darius muttered. Paladin raised his fists, letting lightning course through them. With a mild grunt, he slammed them together. The collision produced a loud thunderclap that seemed to rattle the sky. The crowd quieted down, still uneasy around the Guardian, especially when he displayed his power.

"Please, one at a time." The people settled down a little before a gargantuan Demon stepped forward.

"When do you intend to return to the Isles?" The former warden of the Conformatorium asked, his voice deep and somber, "Some of us still have family there."

"I don't have a timetable yet," Paladin admitted, "We are still in a precarious position and we need to move with caution."

"We can't afford to wait," another Witch spoke up, "Not while the Collector is out there!"

"And then there's the Vex."

"Our family, our children are in danger!"

"Everyone, listen," Darius interjected, "I understand that you're all scared for your families, but we have to act carefully. You'll be of no help to your children if you're dead!"

Darius's words hit the people like a sledgehammer, causing them to mutter amongst themselves as they processed his words. Paladin nodded slightly.

"Well said," he complimented. Then, turning back to the crowd, "I understand your concerns. We have already begun preparing a defensive force to protect the island. My primary concern is to guarantee the safety of as many people as I can. I am not willing to risk more lives on a hunch that there are survivors trapped on the Isles."

The Witches began to mutter, casting wayward glances at the Titan. A few seemed to be angered by his words, likely worried about their lost family members. Hettie crossed her arms defiantly.

"You have no right to hold us here," she asserted. Paladin tightened his fist as the whispers returned to him, mocking him for his failure.

"I have every right," he said in a low voice, "I am not going to let anyone else throw their lives away!" He accentuated his point by slamming his fist into his chest. The sound of metal clanging against metal radiated through the crowd. Darius turned to Paladin, fixing him with a concerned look. The Titan mentally counted to five before drawing back.

"My decision is final," he said, "You are all dismissed."


"You fool!" Jerbo cried triumphantly, "You fell right into my trap!" He slammed down a Hexes Hold'Em card, revealing his master gambit. Barkus placed his hands against his head and let out an exaggerated cry of defeat. Matt watched them from just across the entrance hall. The three were currently watching the main door, observing the Vex as they patrolled outside. A few of the students had suggested sallying out to fight the machines. Emira's words had dissuaded them rather thoroughly.

Following that, Matt had taken the initiative to set up a watch. Sets of three would stand guard on the front entrance, watching the Vex. Well, technically they were the ones being watched. Matt had made eye contact with a Goblin once. He quickly realized that was a bad idea.

He thought back over the last few weeks. Now that things had stabilized, Boscha had mostly gotten out of her funk and did as she usually did, assume complete control. Since then, things had become difficult for him. He was trying to set up some kind of system to help the other students at Hexside. However, Boscha continued to stifle him, siphoning off resources for her own protection. Paranoia had overtaken her. Matt couldn't blame her for that, but it was still an issue.

The rest of Hexside was a mess. Most students wandered around aimlessly. A few had set up a small marketplace, though what they were using for currency was anyone's guess. The economic system had underwent three separate reforms in the last two weeks.

Matt cast his glance back outside to check up on the Vex. Not seeing anything of interest, he looked back to his friend's card game. Suddenly, he did a double take. Someone was running through the streets toward Hexside. Whoever it was, the Vex were right behind them, firing off shots that narrowly missed.

"We have incoming!" He shouted. Instantly, Jerbo and Barkus shot up. Together, the three pried the door open. The Vex began to slow as their victim, now revealed to be two, rushed inside. The smaller of the two, and they were significantly smaller, dropped to their knees and took in a deep breath. The larger turned around and helped to close the door.

"We're clear!" Matt called. The smaller one dusted herself off as she stood up.

"We appreciate the save," she said, "I'm Miki and this is my sister, Roka." The larger sister stared down at the students silently, her robes covering her body.

"I'm Matt, and this is Jerbo and Barkus," Matt greeted, "Welcome to Hexside. The last safe haven on the Isles. We think."

"Good thing the Vex don't want to follow you," Jerbo said nervously, "Uhh… why aren't they following?"

"Don't look a gift snorse in the mouth," Matt shrugged, "Now, we should probably inform our great president about these new arrivals."


Paladin had returned to the training ground after the meeting. Hettie hadn't taken his outburst well. It was a good thing he wasn't interested in hearing her opinion. He alone had the qualifications and ability to protect these people. To hell with anyone who tried to get in his way.

He continued to watch his newest recruits. As he observed, he heard the whispers of his Nightmares slowly drowning out his thoughts.

"Where were you when we needed you most?"

"You have abandoned your people and your Brother!"

"You bring shame to your name."

"Why do you care about them so much?"

Paladin's grip on the railing tightened. He remained measured, yet he could feel his resolve starting to crack. He had tried to ignore the Nightmares. He knew, from previous experience, that they would twist anything he said against him.

Yet, he couldn't help himself but speak up. He knew he shouldn't, but ignoring the problem hadn't done anything. He straightened his back.

"Because these are people I can actually protect."


The Boiling Seas were dangerous for reasons both obvious and less so. One problem was the namesake of the waters, their temperature. Another was its size. Land was scarce in the Demon Realm. A less common reason was the beasts that lurked in the depths of the waves. However, they had been rather docile as of late, for reasons Tarak didn't know.

The Titan Trappers had been traveling as fast as they could. Since the Guardian had destroyed their portal, they had been forced to use less elegant methods of travel. Namely, their ships. Magic had made an incredibly long journey into one that was almost over.

And not a moment too soon. The Boiling Isles were in sight. Ever since the Collector's pyramid had vanished, the Trappers had been swept up in religious fervor. Bill stood at the bow of their ship, holding out his crux of Darkness. The relic hummed with power. It felt euphoric.

"We are getting close," the eldest Trapper said, "Soon, we shall begin our final hunt!"

The rest of the Trappers cheered, raising their blades into the sky.

Unbeknownst to them, they would find a very different power waiting for them on the Isles.


"It's obvious that Paladin isn't going to budge on this."

Darius weighed up Steve's words, nodding in agreement. The Titan had been a great boon to the survivors, but his stubborn, bullheaded nature was starting to get in the way.

"We cannot afford to remain isolated from the rest of the Isles," he concurred, "We may need to take matters into our own hands."

"You wish to go behind his back?"

"We may have no other choice," Darius asserted, "Gather the Bards, I have an idea."


"You sure you're doing ok?" Lancer asked, looking back at his companion. Alador nodded, finishing up his cast. He sighed in relief as his wounds began to soak in healing magic.

"Alright, now, I know where we need to go, but it'll take a while to get there," Lancer said, "Especially if we have to keep ducking around Vex."

Before Alador could respond, the two heard an explosion from not far away. Moving as quickly as his wounds would allow him, Alador ducked behind cover and prepared a spell circle. A pair of Abomination arms appeared beside him. Taking a deep breath, Alador pushed into the open.

The sight he was met with made him freeze. A small horde of Vex were marching across the plains before them, firing upon someone who was busy fleeing from their wrath. As they ran, a shot from the Minotaur pursuing them flung the poor Witch onto the ground where they lay still. Alador moved into action, unleashing his magical limbs. The Vex turned to meet his assault, but it was too late.

The fists crushed a group of Goblins before sweeping to the sides, catching yet more Vex forms. Shifting his footing, Alador launched a flurry of Abomination projectiles into the Harpys flying overhead. Lancer quickly warned him of a Minotaur attempting to flank him. Alador blocked its shot with a wall of Abomination goo. Spinning his hand, the magical material swept under the construct's feet. He lifted it up as it became encircled by Abomination ooze. With a simple hand gesture, he crushed it into a pulp.

Alador lowered his hands, looking around for any other Vex to challenge him. Once he was satisfied the threat was gone, he let his guard fall away. Careful not to aggravate his now-inflamed wounds, he moved closer to the Vex's prey.

"Was it just me, or did that seem a little easy?" Lancer asked.

"Easy for you to say, you weren't the one doing the fighting," Alador snipped. Reaching the unconscious Witch, Alador turned them over. He let out a gasp of surprise as Odalia stared back at him. However, she wasn't staring per say, as she was still unconscious. She had definitely seen better days. There were numerous cuts and scrapes on her face and her once-pristine hair hung loose. Her clothes were in tatters, hanging off her like rags. Lancer and Alador both stared down at the unconscious Witch. The Ghost turned to his companion.

"I say we leave her."


Royal marched through the castle, still unable to shake the feeling of fuzziness in his mind. A few Witches hastily stood at attention as he passed. Had he paid them any attention, he would've seen just how frightened they were.

However, Royal was still too wrapped up in his own mind. Reaching his destination, he threw open the doors. Before him was a sprawling library, filled with knowledge as far as the eye could see. Royal took a moment to bask in it before he set to work. He had questions that needed answered and, with luck, he would find them here.


I don't really have much of anything to talk about. See ya'll next time

Thatnewguy11: That's war for you. Just another day at the office.

OMAC001: If Belos ain't around, then someone has to do it.

ToasterRoaster: I regret to inform you that I enjoy Destiny... UNIRONICALLY! And it does warm my diamond of a heart to know you enjoy my little story so much.

Trials sweat: Good to have you back. I'm not planning on having the traveler show up during the events of this story. Technically, it should already be there but that obviously hasn't happened.

Jebest4781: Will do.

musizlover2008: Looking forward to Season of the Deep. I know that Lightfall, and by extension Season of Defiance, haven't had the best reception, but truthfully I've been enjoying myself.

mmmplays27: I envision that, if they had looked into the game any further, they would've collapsed the Universe into a singularity. That's just Fourth Degree Interdimensional Warp Fuckery™ for you.

GodzillaMaster: Just as planned. I believe the show had a six-month time jump from the end of Season Two to the meat of Season Three. I intend to stick to the time frame.


Venator moved through the Isles like a shadow. Her footfalls were silent and her blades were swift. Any Vex that did lay eyes on her didn't live long enough to report it. She wiped her blades clean of her latest kill before becoming aware of something looming over her. Spinning, she held her hand cannon at the ready.

The first thing she noted was that it was a Minotaur. Nothing unusual there. The second detail was far more curious. Strange, dark vines sprouted from the construct. They were a deep red, the same color as blood. The vines looped around the Minotaur, forming two rings that intersected each other. The vines pulsated with a strange energy, something Venator couldn't place. With a shrug, she fired into the machine.

Malfeasance's slugs buried into the Minotaur and rapidly consumed it. However, rather than collapse, the machine did something Venator wasn't expecting. It healed. The mangled metal somehow forced itself back into place, undoing the damage Venator had done to it. With a frown, she hefted her linear fusion rifle and fired a beam straight through its chest. The construct staggered, only to once again repair itself.

Venator was really starting to get annoyed by this Vex's stubborn refusal to stop existing. She summoned forth her Spectral Blades and lunged at the Minotaur. She sliced, cut, and carved it into pieces. Once she was satisfied, she stepped back to admire her handiwork. Surely, nothing could come back from that.

The Minotaur could, in fact, come back from that.

The Hunter and the Vex regarded each other for a single, awkward moment. Eventually, the Minotaur raised its weapon at the Hunter and fired. The shot slammed into her chest, blasting her apart. For her part, Venator was too annoyed to care much at this point. As her now disembodied head fell to the ground, one final thought flashed through her mind.

This doesn't seem fair at all.