Queen's note: So… the legend begins.

Garnets

Chapter Thirty Eight:

Demigod

Quite honestly, the Slayer was not really sure why he was suddenly pissed off. It was thankfully not the boiling rage that he could so easily let himself get lost in. This was different, making him stop short and growl, despite that he had meant to stay quiet coming up on the crowd.

It was almost like he had caught a glimpse of someone he knew getting knocked over and wanted to reflexively reach out. Though his left hand reached forward there was no one he knew here. Those in front looked up at the large arm and hand suddenly over their heads. He had to commit then to nudge the smaller humans aside. Trying to be careful, but still firmly push aside those in front of him.

All things considered, the Slayer had been having a good day after the funeral held for the fallen Sentinels of the Fortress. Once coming planet-side he found he was just outside of a bigger city. Only some odd dozen miles away and could see the ocean. His pace had been a nice ground eating one, and the Demigod had even caught a glimpse of human life!

It was a hovercraft, not as advanced as the Argenta made ones, but still impressive as it swung over to what looked like a harbor and let out the liquid in its cargo hold. The pilot spinning a turn just a little harder than was needed to make sure the contents were spread out of where a hell horde was trying to form.

The Slayer had paused his jog, stood still as he turned down his music to listen intently.

There was very much the sound a horde of lesser demons would normally make when he came into view.

The Slayer tilted his head back and forth a few times before looking around. He changed his path as he saw a power and communications tower not that far from himself.

"There seems to be significantly more human survivors." Vega noted as he was starting to break into the local networks. "What life signs I can pick up from the Fortress are concentrated by the main harbor and wharfs. By the old and new cruise ship terminals."

The amount of humans he could pick up was roughly 3,000 minimum and 5,000 at the higher end. A good amount of people but at the same time drastically small compared to the five million that used to be in the area.

Vega dropped small points of interest as the Slayer made his detour. Then smaller more transparent dots on the top of his HUD of a different color. "These are where the bigger populations seem to be. These are possible other survivors in and around the city in smaller harbors."

The Slayer almost paused then to look around but was getting back into his long distance pace again. He looked back and forth, tracking where the dots were and what was the closest. The Slayer seemed interested in one, and almost stopped short as he realized the coating of something glittering he had noticed outside of the city was now distinctly white around him. The deeper into the city, the more everything was coated with the soft white crystals.

Not a mold or fungus, as the Slayer paused to touch a stripped car frame. He had to use his lightest touch but felt a distinct crunching under his finger tip. Scraping some off to rub between his fingers. Vega, what is?

"Its… crystalized sea salt." Vega spoke after a moment to access the sensors in the Praetor suit. "I am picking up more from your suit sensors."

The Demigod stood up to his full height, seeing the spread of the faint glittering was indeed all around him. Turning proved it was a much thinner shimmer of salt back where he had come from, easier to see at this different angle.

The humming of another hovercraft drew the Slayer's attention as he looked over. Tracking the second craft as it was lifting off of the water and coming near the area he was in. Much like the first one the Slayer had seen, this craft banked sharply as its liquid cargo started to spray out over the city buildings.

"It seems others have noticed the weakness to salt that Lily's home platform did." Vega spoke, highlighting the hovercraft, then put a small image on the Slayer's hud as he stopped to watch. "It looks like one of the older hovercrafts that were made for fighting wildfires. Modified to protect the engines."

If anyone saw him, they might worry that he was out there seemingly alone. Then to how the giant of a man reached out as if moving something. Then again considering the wide visor it would not be hard to imagine that he was interacting with something on that HUD.

He was.

The slayer did not do it often, but in this case he had been curious. Turning the image Vega had offered of the craft, looking between it and the real thing. It was definitely one of the few crafts that could handle the hell invasion, as it was meant to fly through thick smoke walls.

The Slayer kind of wanted one.

Could he get one?

He could show up to almost any Night Sentinel controlled city and pick up whatever he wanted. Or get them to make something for him… That was an Idea.

When could he pick up some more of his Sentinels? Or find an active engineer? Was there some Human engineers he could find-

The Slayer growled, focusing on what was beyond the hovercraft. His lifted hand clenching as he saw a very familiar structure design. Or at least something very alike to the one on Mars where he woke up outside of his sarcophagus for the first time.

Carefully he flexed his hands before letting them ball at his sides, staring fixedly at the triangular like tower more inland, where it seemed there was more demonic evidence, though the flesh growths were withering from getting drenched in saltwater they were still there. Trying to climb up the tower.

"It's one of the Argent energy relay towers." Vega explained as he watched how the Slayer were watching. "It does not seem to be receiving any more Argent plasma, but finishing refining what it had before you stopped the flow on the main Mars facility."

Why here? The Demigod finally signed once he was sure he had full control of his hands again. The tower was as big as the old skyscrapers, if not a bit bigger as that part of the city seemed to be crumbling.

"Relay towers were set up near higher population zones to help with the energy crises. Not all cities as there were many groups that did want to 'take things slower' with the newborn technology." Vega answered promptly, remembering being mildly amused at Dr. Samuel Hayden's constant frustrations over the delays over the years. "To humans that is. There were at least one, or two towers like this one on each larger continent."

He did not like that, and the Slayer signed as much.

"There seems to be no activity other than minimal drain into the power network, likely helping the survivors. There is also a small leak by a possible gore nest." Vega noted, and then added, "Once you get me into the city network, I can see if the old AI system is still there and aware. Or traces of it. Either way I can get into the still functioning cameras and sensors."

For a few moments, the not quiet man stared at the tower before he realized why he almost instinctively disliked it. The design was what was bothering him, or rather the underlying shape of the building. It was clearly human made, but was alike to the spires in Hell. Like the ones that were closer to the vast city he could never quite get close to. As if he had somehow always been circling the hidden city of Immora, always had been just out of his reach.

The Slayer gave himself a full body shake. As tempting as he wanted to go over to that tower and level it, it was smarter to get Vega access to the old city.

He was almost to the new place when he noticed the hovercrafts were slowly getting closer to him. The area he was trotting through was like a former parking lot, and his foot sank down to his shin instead of on a salt encrusted surface. Not very deep, but it felt… slushy.

The Slayer stepped back, shaking his left leg to get the salt crystals off himself. He looked back at the wide open space exposed to the normally hot sun. Just mildly warm to himself, how the windows and… solar panels were all aimed into this area.

It was a passive demon trap.

Semi passive.

That horde was being herded in this direction, and it looked like the nearest communications area was on the other side from himself. He could go straight through, but it was the thought of having to spend an extra few hours at least cleaning all that salt out of the Praetor suit. Then running the risk of Valen snarling at him for being too stupid again.

The Slayer jogged around to his right, as that path would let him see the condition of the horde.

For science!

Also a good warm up fight to let the Slayer burn some of his frustration at seeing the Argent tower. It really did not take long for him to get around, nor for the now angry horde as they found the mostly empty space. Attracted by the heat at first, then several bloated floating demons picked up on the sense of live humans, leading the more aware part of the horde to the mostly sealed up building.

The Slayer was more than happy to clamp a hand over the possessed creature. As he lifted the screaming thing, the demigod was noting how there were smaller things laying half dissolved, half charred in the puddles around.

All things considering it was not that much of a challenge for the Slayer, he still turned his music up. Each hit to a demon was almost in time with the beat, and the demigod growled a pleased tone at the fight so far. The cacodemon were the only really interesting things around, and they were distracted trying to bump into the building to see where the humans inside were.

There was a nearly petrified hell knight in a pool of thick salty water as if mummified from the salt really. It crunched under his boot really easily though, and started to char as the dehydrated flesh was exposed to oxygen.

The cacodemon were the most interested to fight, though they were already seemingly burned quite a bit. Their aim off as if not quite able to see either. It was still a good experience for Last Gift to get the feeling of this new type of demon to the crucible.

All at once, it was over.

It very much seemed like the Slayer was almost pouting from the outside as he looked around. Resting the glowing blue blade on his shoulder before turning to the building himself. Head snapping up and to the right as he sensed the living soul, then spotted another camera that was not attached to the building but being held over the edge of the mostly solid balcony.

There was a gasp and the camera vanished before the sounds of a scramble. If anything it seemed to trigger the demigod to follow, like a predator reflex to chase what was running away from him. He cleared the distance and was well able to get up the wall to grasp the edge, smoothly swinging up. Though just barely managing to not land on the panicking man still sprawled on the ground.

He stood with his boots on either side of the human, scanning around to see most of the salt build up here had been scraped off. Then looked down, his left foot planted beside the human's ribs, and right boot a little too close to the head but still had a safety barrier of space.

Might have been a disaster if the human was more wiggly.

The Slayer stared down and the human starred up. A full six seconds passed before the human lifted the camera to their chest. Making an interesting estranged sound despite having his neck clear as the Slayer crouched down on his heels to get a better look at the man.

He gave the human a curious poke, before standing and stepping over him as he spotted a door open ajar.

That had been perfect.

He could just walk in, and remember to duck. He still clocked the door frame with his extended launcher, and had to trigger it to retract and settle behind his right shoulder. The Slayer looked around, noting how it looked like that man had been living here. Mostly sealed inside and though there were some things growing, and a water filter, it seemed like most supplies were brought there.

"Frank, what the hell are you doing up there?" A male voice called from an inner doorway to a set of stairs. It was getting closer with the sound of footsteps. "Why is the door open on the sensors- are you doing some stupid- holy fuck!"

The Slayer's free left hand snapped out, catching the human by his loose shirt as he swung into the room and then almost fell right back out. Finding one's self face with a hulking form that had arms bigger around than your head would do to a person.

Wide blue eyes stared up and the bigger Slayer, as he still had to stoop to get through the next door. The stairs creaked alarmingly but he stood very still once clear. Taking in the lay out of the inside of the building, finding that it was surprisingly open, and attached to another building. Thus letting the humans get away from the cacodemon's senses undercover and confusing them.

He saw the equipment needed as Vega highlighted it. The Slayer turned to look at the human he held, clearly judging the smaller man, and then deactivated the crucible. Last Gift was hooked back to his right thigh and he lifted the human around to his front, carefully plucking off the recognizable security badge that did not even resemble who had.

The Slayer set the whining human aside, away from the stairs edge and walked for the equipment. He had to be very careful as he unlocked the panel he needed, working smoothly. With an odd experience as the Slayer used the badge to access the computer, and the edge of his arm blade to get under the panel. He already had the new device from Vega, watching the progress and giving a pleased humm.

Vega worked fast, once again he seemed to be a bit more aggressive than on Mars. Now after having Riggs and Cascade influencing and teaching him?

"I have full access to the city network." Vega reported, able to fully turn his attention to the task at hand as Riggs did help with the Fortress with the Atlan mech. "Do not forget to take that new relay with you, it can be reused."

The Slayer disconnected it, and slipped it back into one of his pouches. Turning he saw the two humans gaping at him, half way down the stairs as if they thought they could stop him. With them in the way he looked up and vaulted the distance to the level he had been, swinging up carefully but still left the railing bent under his hand. The Slayer was back outside that open door, taking half a second to close it behind him. Though the humans would have to lock it again from the inside.

"I am picking up a distress signal," Vega spoke and dropped a new beacon. "You might be interested in this one. It is a group trapped in a building near you. Some of the demons from the horde you just killed. They've been requesting help for some time but are also warning about the local leader experimenting on demons."

The Slayer let out a low grumble as he dropped back down to street level, looking around before signing. Where?

One of the faint beacons was drawn up to show the direction. Over all near the docks he was interested in. It was also where two of the four hovercrafts were starting to circle.

With the lack of somewhere else to go he launched into a pace that was more then his jog but not really running proper. That was when the demigod had found the blockade and the ground of people. Several armed, others not, many looked desperate as they yelled at those fully armed and armored on top of the blockades. It looked like a shipping container or three that had been dropped down, covering the streets leading to… a park?

It was an old church and a part, and the Slayer thought he heard the familiar roar of Kell Knight.

"...even though our fellow man have condemned us here…"

There was a group off to his right as the demigod slowed, separated from the mass as they were just kneeling or sitting on the old sidewalk despite the salt. They had an ancient radio that was between them, listening to the voice trying to reassure them.

"There's an incident with the Sentinel group." Vega started to report. "It seems to be feral but larger… hellhounds? Are chasing a survivor. Captain Mila thinks they can handle it."

The Slayer gave a grunt to show he heard, but was focusing one everything around him. As if he could take it all in and it was backfiring a bit. Too many people, too many voices yelling, too much fear stink scent in the air mixed with anger and…

"Fear not for us here my brothers and sisters. We are old and frail, and will not pray for rescue." The radio said as the Slayer controlled the weight of his steps, so as not to alarm the humans he was coming up on. Most were focused on those on the barricades.

The Slayer snorted again, tilting his head to get a better scent of something he recognized. Like ash and blood but…rotting. It was faint, and he did not have that power to scent souls yet.

"There's enough of us here- we can still save them!" A male voice yelled from the crowd, getting mixed responses from it as the Slayer paused to focus on the smaller group.

"We have the eyes of those unclean monsters… focused on us here." The voice on the radio spoke, sounding tired but fond. "Not on our grandbabies, or our sons and daughters."

One of the darker tanned colored and older women finally sobbed at those words. Those around closing around her for support. The Demigod found himself reflexively stepping over there, as he saw a darker colored girl frying for her grandpa. He almost thought was the one he pulled out of the Soulless Calling cult. Then he remembered that she was safe back in the Fortress, still asleep in the stasis pod.

He moved just a little to close as someone in the smaller group looked up as his shadow fell over them.

"We love you too much to let you feed yourselves to the monsters." The voice on the radio found some strength, as there were others murmuring agreement. "Please my children, my brothers, my sisters… our sons and daughters."

It was a little surreal to see the faces looking up at him from their huddle ground. The Slayer's big hand half lifted and he was frozen in a half stoop once realizing he had moved so close.

These humans were frightened, confused but had that same kind of awe that the Argenta did after he killed the Titan. The demigod looked between them all without moving his head.

"Even if we can not see the coming of the Unchained One the monsters fear." The radio speaker sighed, and then took a deep breath.

The Slayer shifted forward, his fingers brushing the girl's hair, smoothing his hand down to her shoulder. Feeling her breathing was affected as well, and that she had no mask with a filter, just a simple woven fabric one.

"We know from the dark things whispering… that he is."

The demigod knelt, but even so he still loomed over the small group. He could not help but pull the girl closer, tapping her chest with a thick finger. She gasped and coughed, then gasped again as that small spark of energy seemed to loosen things in her chest. Small hands grasped his forefinger and thumb.

So tiny…

"Pray that he is watching…"

The demigod hummed at the child, looking up at the others. Small, lean, thin, some of the adults were almost dehydrated despite having two canteens. Each person had one marked with a 'SW' and those that did not were around the youngest members of their group.

"Pray that he will come out of the gates of hell to our world."

He stood up, gently shaking the small fingers off, even if he wanted to pick the girl up. The demigod awkwardly rested his hand on her head, then turned back to the shifting, angry mane crowd that did not notice him.

He was walking with oddly no sound as he paced to the nearest humans. Reaching out.

…and then there was a pull on him, something under his stomach that suddenly roiled. In turn the Demigod of death was completely and utterly pissed off that a deep, inhuman snarl slipped out. Loud enough that those shorter humans around him stilled.

"Pray that their scourge in hell, the one they fear more than any weapon or will of man," The voice on the radio spoke, trying to keep his voice strong as something was breaking in the background. "Pray with me, that Unchained Predator of their hell comes my brothers and sisters."

The quiet spread as the humans turned to find themselves under the nearly unseen gaze of a predator looming.


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XFireStoneX: It never really dose, unless the big guy is lazy. And no I have not! that might be a thing!