Queen's note: so… yeah late with this. Loong week, hope you like the chapter though!

Garnets

Chapter Fifty Eight:

Brothers of Baron

He had not forgotten what flight was like, not by ship, skimmer, or shuttle, even being launched through the air on his own will or against it in hell or out.

But…

Nothing was quite like being mid air on the back of a wintherin, not as fast as some ships, nearly as some others, but still far more thrilling. You had to consecrate in the moment far more than even fighting with boots on the ground. As it was not a full saddle like on other creatures on both on Argent D'nur, or on earth.

The Slayer was not the only one focusing on doing a strange mix of both relaxing the body and working his abdominal muscles to stay balanced. Knees and thighs brace on blue gray hide, as he was the only one who currently did not have a saddle proper. There was not one that had a wide enough tree inside to fit Viola without hurting her long term.

So he was more or less bareback for now. Only having an old leather bridle ring to hold on, yet it was more fun than annoying to the Slayer. He was humming to himself, absentmindedly to the music that was playing in his helmet and scanning the ground. It was a good pick from Vega, fitting almost in time with Viola's wing beats.

He caught sight of the side effects of a growing gore nest in the surviving forest near where there should have been one of the artisan cities. Only where the polished marble town used to be was a great swath of nothing.

A deep, ragged gorge in the world was all that was left in an oblong pattern. Like something had dug into the crust and peeled the chunk of the world off. Making new cliff sides that sweep downwards at different depths. One side had teetering trees, a small stream was draining in from another, and just a small patch of ruins was all that was left of that once white and blue city. The Slayer shifted on his mount's back, feeling Viola slowing her flight to start to arch in the direction of the ruins.

The flight formation was drifting with them. The two smaller males, that teal son and the gray mate on either side with Zanin and Haco to the left and right. While Asin was in the rear position with one of Viola's older gray and blue daughters.

"There's an active horde," Zanin spoke, sitting up in his saddle, his voice coming over the comms as he still signed for the Slayer's attention, "I can see someone fighting in what's left of that far eastern tower."

The Slayer focused, humming softly as Vega brought up a feed that was where the Sentinel was focusing.

"Your orders Lord?" Asin asked from the guard position, Haco was turning in his saddle to watch the demigod.

The Slay gave a low sound that was and was not Primordial, being felt by those near despite the flight.

Aggression. Hunt.

In time, the four wintherin let out roars of excitement, Viola leading the new flight path into a strafing run. Plasma looking fire was already licking at her jaws in excitement. To the right the gray male was doing much the same as he was arching his neck. Haco sat up higher on the saddle in a show of his excitement to fight something he knew he could handle and win against.

Demons were much better of an opponent to face than his war king. Even the hell knights and barrens! Haco was just glad he was claimed as one of the Slayer's Sentinels. Even if Asin and Zanin were not there, Haco knew his back would be well protected.

They just needed two shield bearers to help flank the Slayer and they would almost have a full hunting unit!

Getting closer, Zanin smiled in his helmet. Having a small hunch as this was the general area his family came from. The once marble city of Hiech, was once where geo witches used to come to sell their goods. It was as good of a chance to find one around the crater, more so if one placed a bet with the Slayer's luck.

Zanin was betting on his Lord's eerier luck. The closer they came, the better he could see that it did not look like any Night Sentinels fighting. Something in him was disappointed, but at least proud those Argenta were still fighting as bigger demons were pushing towards the front of the horde and the attempted stronghold in the ruins.

Three Hellknights, and what looked like an altered Baron? It was a red toned in hide, with long wicked blades integrated into forearms that licked with hell fire. But it also had some sort of thick green crystal growth down its back acting like a spiny shield plate. Zanin sat up in the saddle, holding with his left arm and touched a spot Vega had directed him. "Altan, can you focus on those hell knights?"

"Yes," Vega said as he brought up a window with a zoomed image of the moving demons and then it changed to something of a scan that showed a few more details, including that odd growth.

"What is that in, or on them?" Zanin asked.

"I've only seen that kind of growth in one place." Vega must have shared this with the Slayer as he was looking over to Zanin then down below. "I believe those demons are affected by, or possibly controlled by a Gorgon. I am not detecting something with that mass near you though. If you can get a sample of that crystal growth for me to scan, I can confirm. But be careful not to let any of it get through your armor. Not even a sliver of it, Zanin."

"I can do that." Zanin shifted, instead of reaching for his ballista, grasping his sword, charging it with his wraith gift to make the edge frost over. He considered the words and how the Slayer was sitting on his mount.

What had Lord Valen said? There was a new Gorgon in hell, they were massive creatures… apex predator roles in hell to cull the excess. They could control lesser and some mid tear demons, overpowering them with the gorgon's own will. Some higher and noble demons, like that Baron, would willingly exchange loyalty for added power or armor.

Zanin hoped Vega was not letting the young lady Lily watch this fight. Though he was fairly sure she would not be the kind of person inclined to watch fights. Yet seemed to be someone to check in. She was a gentle soul in Zanin's estimation, like Asa… just, not with the Sentinel training. He hoped Lily could have a bit more peace with herself before needing to know her now demon-altered mother was starting to stretch her influence out of hell.

Thankfully, in a way, not on earth.

The Night Sentinel glanced ahead and to the side without turning his head. Watching how the Slayer moved as the big mount started her dive. In a half standing, half crouched position that Haco and Asin were likely getting into as well. Zanin shifted but he was not getting ready to jump off into the horde to fight. Someone had to help control the other mounts, to help guide them in the aerial attack. At least the smaller three, as Viola would likely stay near her rider.

Erratic, panicking motion caught Zanin's attention in the ruins. Following the teal wintherin's movement in the dive. He grinned, catching a glimpse of an oddly round and smooth sphere where there would be a fountain. "Mark that tower Vega. Lord Slayer! I think there's one of those geo witches there!"

Always bet on this war king's luck.

"It's also where that modified Baron is forcing the horde to." Haco growled, pausing as he saw the Slayer was signing. A green colored dot appeared on his HUD.

"The Slayer wants you to focus on these points. He will deal with the Baron." Vega spoke, giving the points that were pointed out to him, having to track the Slayer's eyes to double check.

Haco gave a sound that was not exactly human, for a lack of a better term it was almost like a half bark, half roar sound. Quickly echoed by the other two Sentinels as they found their target, or lack of one for Zanin.

The Slayer smirked, feeling the warmth of faith flooding into his gut, almost purring to himself before he had to focus on the Demons. He rumbled a soft sound to Viola, letting go of the bridle band. Scratching the thick hide with both hands as she was let out a stream of that wintherin 'fire' that was edged in wraith energy. He could sense the untainted souls in the ruins they were passing over, the Slayer could almost catch their scent now.

He stopped bracing on the big wintherin, pushing off backwards and into the open air. Keeping his momentum somewhat from Viola and aimed at the big demon climbing the tower. The baron all but trampling the imps as he climbed, eyes locked onto the odd sphere, bypassing the Argenta at the base of the tower.

"Get the stone-egg!" The altered, old Baron roared in demonic language at the gargoyles taking to the air, "Get me what's inside- Alive! The new mother wants-"

The heavy rock hit the elder Baron in the face from above, almost a full three seconds before something 'small' but heavy hit his back. He roared in anger, almost getting dragged off the ridge of the tower. The Baron reached back to grab as he was digging his left hand into the stone of the tower. Trying to drag what hit his right shoulder and side off- ready to bite the stupid imp in half for its stupidity-

For an awkward moment, the heavily armored being was half pulled forward, his hand grasping the Baron's right horn so hard it was starting to crack and fracture. There was a vividly bright green glow from under the visor, not the argent energy blessed though, as a thunder deep growl came out of this being. Before the primordial word came.

Hunger.

Something alike to an avian screeching echoed across the current battle field as the Baron threw first himself and his clinging on, over the wall of the tower. As his horn was ripped off the demon managed to twist and roll, grappling to get the Hellwalker off him. Just before one of the hands could grab at his other horn or his head, the elder Baron got a lucky hit, and had to contort to hook a cloven hoof against the Slayer's middle. He had to heave and kick with all his strength. Part of his left horn broke off with the same act that freed him.

"False god of hell," The Baron spat as he rolled and launched back up to his feet, planting them firmly. Seeing how the smaller slayer slid to a stop, on his own feet again after a moment. Standing between the elder Baron and… that Argenta female with the sphere. "That is not for you Hellwalker, Mother of Pearl wants what's hers. That's as good of an offering until it's found."

The Slayer shifted a bare amount, seeing like he was looking back, but the Baron knew better than to fall for that bait. Even with that temptation of the young mortal with sweet blood now hiding behind the Slayer. Knew this creature was not so foolish to take his attention off the demon. Just as the Baron focused fully on hell's only natural predator, he could see the native wintherin turning in the air and coming down.

The big gray male wintherin did not even touch down, almost landing on the sphere with rapid wing beats. Large hind legs grasping tight before forelimbs and heaving up back into the air. Not struggling nearly as hard as it looked like it should, letting the Baron know that the stone shell was a lot thinner than it looked.

"No-no, wait!" The argenta turned, stumbling as she reached out but the wintherin was well back up into the air and out of the range of her wraith gift. Only to yell as the even bigger wintherin female landed on the edge of the tower. Setting the walls alight with her fire to keep the swarming imps and other smaller annoyances out.

The massive wintherin huffed out the last of the flames, eyeing the argenta before growling.

The Slayer growled himself as the elder Baron summoned his newly altered mace and shield.

Jaws opened wide before the wintherin dipped her head. Catching the mortal argenta as she tried to scrabble away only to be picked up like a chicken nugget. Viola launched herself back into the air, knowing what her person wanted, even if the soft thing was still screaming about being almost all the way into her maw. She took the argenta to the cliff side that her mate was settling with that stone sphere.

"Time to die it seems." The Baron chuckled, large fangs bared, though he knew enough that his own unlife was likely to be ended before the day's end. He gripped the mace, moving away from the flames at his back. Feeling his own gift growing from on his back in response to his will and over shoulders. The crackling Gorgon crystal creeping around his sides and hardening in plates to protect joints and weaker areas on his legs.

He was likely not to survive, but he could likely damage the Hellwalker now.

The Slayer rolled a shoulder, something in his posture was amused as the demigod tossed up the chunk of broken horn a few times. Then the Hellwalker crushed it into fragments, not char, with a low growl of his own. He launched forward into an attack first.

The seaglass like shield swung around and the elder Baron felt the full force of the fist that hit it. It did not shake him, but the floor of the tower shivered under them both. The elder demon roared as he swung the mace around, spikes between the edged blades on the end, and hit with all the force with his body. Around two thousands pounds of mass, muscle and hardened chitin armor behind the hit.

It was incredibly satisfying to be able to knock the demigod back. Not so much to have a plasma rifle fire at his face though. The elder Baron had to lift his shield, grinning as he advanced on the Slayer.

The fight was not some graceful, epic thing to be romanticized about. As most all the bloody, desperate fights with the denizens of hell were. The Slayer was not the only experienced one, as that elder Baron could and did switch tactics mid fight. It was bloody and painful for both, red and green blood spilled over the tower's stone floors first. Then as the baron got a hold of the shorter demigod he was quick to slam the armored form down through the floor.

There was a low grunt from within the ruble two floors down. The Slayer did not sit up right away as there was a heavy thud from the floor above him. At the moment the Slayer was out of sight as he stayed still, letting muscles around his hip heal and knit together again.

The elder Baron's low voice spoke up, speaking the demonic language as there were semi muffled sounds of fighting outside the tower between the horde and the Argenta. "Come Hellwalker, that could not have killed you. Even with these new gifts from the Mother of Pearl, I know I can not kill you. Get up. Give me a proper death and fight Hellwaker."

His hooves clicked heavily on the stone, the high class, living tank of a demo passed around the opening. He flexed his hand over the mace, admiring it as there was still no movement below, the curved blades enhanced with the network of crystal-like spikes. Two were missing, having broken off, likely against the Slayer's armor, or in him?

That would be a funny thing!

"Hah!" The Unchained Predator of Hell, having to fight off the influence of a gorgon infection! The elder Baron grinned as he saw movement. "There you are."

The biggest slab of metal and stone lifted and was tossed aside before the SLayer stood back up. Giving himself a shake, no glittering green sea glass falling off or showing to be lodged in his body. The Slayer looked up, lifting his rifle and paused. Staring at the broken weapon before growling and tossing it aside.

Now this promised to be a better fight as the Hellwalker discarded using the weapons that could and did shackle his real power. The elder Baron jumped down, fangs exposed as he paced around the unmoving demigod. "Now let's have some fun, Hellwalker. And my brothers will look for that mortal daughter."

The helmet snapped to the Baron, the first real sign that he understood, let alone could hear the elder demon. The slayer turned to face the Baron, growling low and deep as he picked off the hilt on his right thigh.

For a moment, the elder Baron wondered if the Slayer knew who he was talking about. Able to put together real thought better than the lower class demons, the Baron extended his will to halt the Prowler from dropping down as well. Wanting it to watch and report back to his brothers if it could get away once the Hellwalker noticed it.

The slayer gripped the hilt, and the blade that leapt to life had the Baron pausing. Focusing on the opalescent blue blade and the frosting, almost blue sea glass like ice crawling up his right arm.

The elder Baron tensed, suddenly very sure this false god of hell might know who the mortal daughter he and his brothers were searching for… was. Knew exactly who it might be as the air was heating up around the Hellwalker with another growling.

That was a crucible made with a gorgon heart.

He might know where the younger mortal with a crystal heart was.

"Give me a death worth fighting for Hellwalker."

Reviews!

RavenShichiyou: HI AGAIN FREN! Its so nice to see you again! and yes, there will be a big, soft and warm sweater that you can get lost in for DoomDad, and smells like petrichor when he's gone for his flowers. Also Viola is going to have a moment later on trust me XD [Heather might be using it as a blanket]

XFireStoneX: Big comfy nests that will be coming back! hopefully you like the angry XD

Soap opera: Thank you! AND hi new frend!