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The fortress the woman, Evilyn, lead them all to was a massive thing. It was miles long, entrenched into the ground with a floor above it made of long stretches of concrete, dotted by shimmering glass windows, and massive signs Alex called 'advertisements'. While there were a few smaller entryways, most of them sealed up by metal plates riveted into the odd stone of the building, there were four greater entrances, embedded into curving facades with a balcony above it. Each set into one of the cardinal directions, and all with rows of heavy walls made up of stacked, beige sacks of some sort, and tall metal barricades with eye-slots at roughly head height for the soldiers defending them.
Inside, the 'mall' as Alex called it had long walkways a third as wide as the building, split down the middle by openings that looked down on two more levels and up to the one above.
Shops lined either side, with stairs and little glass and metal boxes the Humans stepped into and rode up and down, propelled by a new magic to him. And a heavy concrete fence ran along the edges of the walkway, with curves that jutted into the path and out over open air. These were filled with beautiful plants he had never seen, in splashes of every color the Lord of Light had granted unto Mankind when he showed them the sky.
And it was thronged…
Most of the shops were open, their shelves being emptied into crates and boxes by exhausted looking men and women in uniform clothes, while others handed out clothing, food and water to huddled masses. Refugees, he knew without any need to ask, dressed in filthy, oft bloodied, clothes and soaked in ash and sweat. They were depserate, whispering frightenedly amongst themselves, and he was certain that had the shops not been guarded by a line of armored soldiers they would have pushed into them to take what they needed then and there.
He held no malice towards them for it, of course - terror and despair could shatter any soul.
This, Lordran had taught him…
A more scattered line of soldiers ran along the railing across from the shops. Some stood on boxes, crates, or sat on barrels and the like, but all waved inward. Herding the Humans further into the fortress, shouting the same three words, "Rinta! Enxa! Ewinessee!"
But, as Evilyn dismissed her men and lead he and Alex in, those Humans all paused. All turned, watching him trundle along, great blade smeared in monstrous ichor resting on his shoulder as ashen rock fell away. But he didn't feel any malice for them, either. He was a titan, towering over them all, and some, he was sure, had gone to that little shrine on the mountain. Had come to pray.
To him…
"Pitiable…" He rumbled, shaking his great, helmed head and sighing deeply. "Where are the Gods of this land?"
Fighting the invaders, somewhere, he supposed, hoped… But if they were here, or somewhere near, and fighting, then why was the city so devastated? Their people undefended and under equipped for the fight they faced? He'd seen the creatures that ambushed them, and faced others on the mountains, and thus far all were the same size as them or larger. And carrying arms that ended the Human warriors in singular, nigh effortless, blows. And even were they doing battle, why would they allow such heresy as a mere Undead being worshipped so overtly?
None of it made proper sense…
"What has happened…" He murmured as they passed a wider, more open sort of promenade, filled to the brim by little cots and men and women, in and out of armor, groaning and clutching lesser wounds. Arms were slinged, legs braced and wrapped in shirts, and some lay far more still, red bandages stretched across their torsos and limbs.
Some of which ended far sooner than they should have…
"No." He murmured, standing and looking at them all, "The gods of this land cannot be fighting…"
For they were surely dead.
He turned, stepping into the makeshift resting area as the doctores working at their patients turned to him. Most seemed surprised by his immensity, but then annoyed by his intrusion. A few, though, backed away, muttering the same words. 'Ashe Nite'. Standing over a man whose breath rattled even over the din of crowds and orders and pained groaning, he retrieved his Talisman and knelt. Evilyn came over quickly, tried to wave him away, to make space for the doctors, but Alex got between them and pushed her back. Then turned to him…
And nodded, ever so gently.
"For even in the midst of Darkness, the Light did dwell. Deep in her heart, where love did swell. For every man, from every land. Come to fight, on call of her Light. And so she laid, hand on those wound waylaid. And gently did shed tear, our fair…" He felt the Light burn through him as he pushed the Miracle's power outward, radiating away from him in a circle of power that stretched out for yards around him, draining him as it went and he intoned, deep voice reverberating with a wholly other power, "Gwynevere."
Around him, men and women groaned as their wounds suddenly knitted closed, their bones suddenly righted themselves and, though the limbs would never return, those who had lost them felt their pain ease. And their wounds, too, healed over. Satisfied by the doctor's shock and awe, and the proof it stood as that his work had been done, he stood…
And shuddered, immediately sinking, drained, to a knee and letting out a shuddering breath.
"Vin!" He turned as Alex appeared in front of him, tiny hands and equally tiny frame brace him up, pressing against his broad chest in an effort to help while Evilyn paced around to meet his gaze. Alex spoke, though, voice… Frantic, even to his ignorant ears. "Vin, icht nena voi?"
"I am fine." He rumbled, forcing himself up and taking a deep breath as he replaced his Talisman and explained, almost automatically, "Just winded. Healing so many is a… Draining affair."
"Vin?"
"I-" He sighed and laid a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head and patting it gently with a finger. The act was a bit awkward, but it seemed to comfort her. Quietly, speaking as if to an animal in low, comforting tones, he said, "I am fine, Alex. Do not fret."
"Vin," she pointed at him, then at her, "Alex. Ok."
"Ok." He nodded, repeating the foreign word as the meaning impressed itself. Pressing a hand to his chest he reiterated, "Vin ok."
"Hiyan." She nodded, sighing, "Ina tin-"
Suddenly, the building quaked and the people around him were shaken from their shock over his actions and overtaken by panic. The doctores flocked to the crippled while the armored ones, formerly wounded, surged up and towards the noise. And the rest, the normal Humans, pressed the other way. Away from a distant, endless sort of roar and, subdued under it, the familiar yet still quite odd little 'pop-pop' of the Humans' weapons. And, all around him, the armored soldiers were shouting the same words, using them to hurry the other Humans further in.
"Kov'net atick." The latter of which context told him had to mean, "Attack."
Before he could react, Alex swept past him, waving for him to follow her back the way they had come. Towards the noise. Evilyn tried to stop her, but she pushed the woman off and hissed, "Vin ist un fren! Uni in Kov'net tea rul!"
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"But, Alex, if the Covenant are there, you aren't even-"
"He's been following me, Evilyn!" Alex argued hotly, blood boiling in her veins as her heart pounded and her mind raced. Shaking her head, "I-I never believed mom's crazy ideas, b-but when I needed him, he came! Saved me! B-But he doesn't understand- I have to show him!"
"Fucking-" Evilyn hissed, then stooped low and picked up a discarded Magnum by one of the cots and shoved it into Alex's hands. It was heavy and cold, but she'd been to the Defense classes and knew to check its magazine. When she did, Evilyn sighed, "You know how to use it?"
"Y-Yeah…"
"Good." She nodded, "Last resort. You direct your… Knight, and keep your head down. Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Good girl." Evilyn nodded, stepping in front of her and waving for her to follow. "On me, stay low once we clear the crowds."
"R-Right." She nodded, turning and looking up at the towering knight behind her, who stared down at her silently. Almost like he was… Considering her, somehow. But, when she waved for him to follow, he nodded slowly and did as she asked.
It took a minute or so to push past the crowds running against them, but most at least tried to get out of Evilyn's armored way. And, once they were past, the mall had emptied out - the soldiers there either running ahead of them to fight, or with the people trying to get away to the roof, where the Pelicans were supposed to land. As they got back to the doors outside, though, she was suddenly hit by gusting, hot winds and nearly choked on the smell of so much…
So much burning meat…
"God…" She gagged, leaning on one of the door-frames as she looked outside at rows and rows of melted concrete and burning metal and sandbags.
The devastation stopped about forty feet out, where a line of soldiers had collapsed, clothes on fire and smoldering. Past them, more were pulling back, huddling down behind taller piles of sandbags while a team set up a machine gun. A few of the burnt bodies were moving, twitching and shaking and shouting, but the other soldiers ignored them. Too busy setting up for whatever was coming, maybe, or just sure enough they couldn't do anything not to bother.
Either way, it made Alex's head ache…
"What the hell-"
"Warship!" Evilyn snapped, pointing up at the slowly turning, withdrawing hull of a huge purple ship, moving off to its next target. She grabbed alex and shoved her behind the thick, metal columns that supported the entrance and said, "I'm joining the defense! Wait for something big to show up and send your man in! Got it?"
"W-Why-"
"Because if he goes out there now and starts causing them problems, the ship might come and glass us!" Evilyn snapped, "And because I told you to- Damn it, Phantoms!"
Seven of them came in and around, splashing the couple rows of defenders in heavy plasma fire as their sides opened up. The Grunts on their turrets opened fire, too, and Alex saw half a dozen Marines and police ripped apart by it as dozens of Grunts and Jackals leapt out and dropped down to the ground. The machine gun opened up on them almost before they'd landed, ripping the closest Phantom's Grunts and a couple Jackals apart and arcing their fire up, along its hull to kill the Grunt gunner before it could swivel around and onto them.
Most of the Grunts died quickly, but the Jackals held more firmly, their shield-gauntlets flashing brightly as rounds were deflected and they advanced on the first line of sandbags, overrunning a few spots in the already thin line and using the cover to attack the Marines along it where they did managed to fend off their attackers, suppressing them just like her classes had taught her. As their transports withdrew, seven more came down over the burnt ground and spun to open, a handful more Grunts dropping out ahead of a couple dozen Elites in bright blue armor that finally broke the front line, spraying plasma across the Marines and cops as they tried to run back.
Evilyn leapt into cover beside the machine gun, a few yards in front of them and to their side, and stood to pepper the Elites in bursts of fire as they pushed and she turned.
The Knight was watching it all, turning to look up and down the line as they fought. As if he were… Studying it, almost.
"Vin…" He turned to her and, shaking, she waved at the fight. "Will you… Help?"
He stood for a moment, still and thinking, probably trying to guess what she meant. What she wanted. She was about to turn and start their little guessing game again, but he nodded before she could, and gently nudged her inside.
Then he stepped past her…
And bellowed.
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"Hear me, wretched abominations, and quake!" He bellowed, voice carrying even over the din of the battle as he stepped into view and slammed his greatsword down with enough force to shatter the odd stone beneath him. Leaving the sword, he pressed a hand against his chest and went on, "I am Vin, Knight of Astora and servant of the Lords! I know you cannot understand my words, but I offer you one chance, demanded by honor!"
"Flee!" He snapped, waving his hand as if to wave them away, "Or fall!"
"Wort!" One of the blue armored ones bellowed, "Wort wort!"
Instantly, two of the little feathered ones turned, peppering him in green fire. But, even tired, he was faster, snapping his shield around to block the projectiles and wrenching his Moonlight blade from the stone. Pushing more power into it, he pivoted on a heel and swung, the lance of emerald fury lashing out and down into half a dozen of the monsters, annihilating them in a splash of color, burnt flesh and exploding stone.
He turned, then, and swung the blade around as the odd violet… Things tried to pull away, turning their large, hanging projector weapons towards him. Another arc of Moonlight wrath slammed out and into them, shattering them in bright splashes of energy and leaving only one to pull away, listing over to the side as it tried to escape. And, ultimately, failed, crashing down into the burnt and destroyed land he had once seen thronged by Human warriors. Warriors whose Humanity inundated the field, fading away and dispersing as they moved on to the next realm.
"Fine then…" He sighed, "You have decided!"
Leaping from on high, he came down on the creature that had ordered the others to fire on him, crushing him as he came down and turned. The greatsword whistled as it came around and carved through another of the taller creatures and his shield snapped out, crushing two of the avian ones. Another of the tall, blue aliens discarded its weapon, drawing one of the glowing blades he'd seen them wield before. It sparked off his shield as he turned, locking it against his side, and then lashed out with it, bludgeoning the creature with enough force its sword-arm shattered.
It snarled, sagged to a knee, and then was tossed to the side by a burst of that loud weapon's fire from his side.
The Humans, seeing his work, stood from their cover and opened up on the now confused monsters. With their center shattered by him, they advanced, pushing back out to reclaim the lost ground while he moved to the right of the defensive line. The monsters did their best as he came, but he ducked and weaved, turned and stepped, sword and shield swinging around to crush and cleave through them easily as the super-hot liquids splashed across his armor.
Where it hit, it super-heated, melting away what was left of the ash encasing him and even burning him through it. But he ignored the heat and kept moving, faster than most of the monsters could scrape and scramble away. Then something leapt onto his back, claws scraping across his mask as it sought purchase. He turned, reaching up to rip it down-
Suddenly something exploded, right against the back of his head, and he was sent staggering as heat washed over him. Already drained from so much, he sank to a knee, and the surviving creatures eagerly took their vengeance. Superheated fluids splashed against him even as the Humans tried to support him, cutting down the monsters as he stood and turned, the last of his fury rushing through the Moonlight Greatsword and lashing out, cleaning along the forward line and cutting down half the creatures before they could react and forcing the rest to dive down to dodge.
The rest fell quickly as the Humans advanced, coming up on their flank as the monsters scrambled up.
Then, just as suddenly as things had swung in their favor, he heard the whumping fire of more of those odd liquid firing weapons, and bright violet globules splashed down in long rows through the defensive line. Turning, he raised his shield and braced as several slammed into him, heat and noise washing over him. As it faded, he pushed his shield out to hurl the super-heated liquid and the last dregs of ash off his shield and snarled as more aliens dropped down in front of him from above.
These were ape-like, shaggy hair dotted by brightly colored armor that did little as he swung, his blade carving through them.
But then another landed at his side, sinking to a knee. He was covered in dark, dusky orange armor dotted by spikes and roared as he surged up and turned, a heavy hammer coming around in his hands. It caught him in his side before he could check his blade's momentum, and went off with a 'tumpf' of concussive force far exceeding its mass. The fury of it threw even him off his feet and into the air, sailing over both defensive lines and coming down in a heap of metal at the base of the stairs.
More of the apes dropped down beside the first as it vaulted the low wall of sacks, and followed their leader as they rushed up, mirrored by a dozen and a half more scattered along the line. He forced himself up, side aching, and came up on a knee to brace his shield as the armored ape's hammer came around and crashed into it, the force sending shockwaves up his arm. Then the hammer danced up and came around again, catching the rim of his shield and blasting his guard open in a shockingly deft move, opening him up to a rain of orange spines that sprayed into him from the monster's sides.
Most bounced off his armor, but a few found some purchase in the weaker joints of his armor, punching in just enough to draw blood before he stood and the motion of his armor forced them back out. Abandoning his shield in favor of a two handed grip, he swung for the armored ape and it ducked, knee scraping against the stone as he stepped to the side and three of his fellows leapt in, trying to bear him down by force of weight. He stayed standing, though, taking his off hand from the hilt of his sword and crushing the face and skull of the left-most one under a devastating punch that sent it flying back the way they had come.
Then the same force from the first hammer blow caught him again, this time at the backs of his knees, and he snarled as he was thrown off them and toppled.
The apes staggered back as well, and he thrust up as they recovered and came in again, taking one in the sternum and nearly bisecting it horizontally. But the hammer came around once more, this time into the face of his helmet, and he was driven down by the force of it. Winded, he flailed with his sword, quite literally disarming another ape as the first barked and fur more surged in from above him-
They'd broken the line, then, and been called back by their leader to face him.
"Beasts!" He snarled, "I will-"
Again the hammer came down on his head, sending stars across his vision and cutting off his words. As he tried to rise once more, the blow came down a third time, then a fourth into his hand to disarm him and, as his sword clattered away, a fifth into his chest. A sixth, a seventh, an eighth into his head, driving him into the stone with each blow. Like a nail driven down by a mallet. Blinking up through his bent visor, he glared at the creature as it stooped low to meet his gaze.
His fist clipped it in the side of its helmet, shattering the metal and drawing a splash of blood and matted fur as it staggered back, roared, and hefted the hammer once more.
"Na!" A distant voice shouted as something small slammed into the ape's chest and bounced off it, landing on top of Vin.
The surprise, and the wound Vin had dealt it already, sent it staggering back a step. And Alex, small and dirty and eyes wide in terror, scrambled up onto his chest. She said something and turned, raising a little silver weapon as one of the monsters grabbed at her. It roared loudly, cracking the air four times, and the monster fell away as more barks of fury rained down from above, cutting down one of the avian things as it came to join the fray. But another of the apes came from her other side, wrenched her up by her hair and grabbed her weapon hand by the forearm as more of the bird-like creatures rushed past it and up the stairs, towards the source of the other attack.
The girl kicked at her attacker, then, and he dropped his bladed weapon to catch her by the leg, turning as he surged up.
"No!" He bellowed, reaching out for the girl-
And watching as the creature tore her in half, a boot pressing against her stomach and pushing through her as the creature snarled.
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Alex sucked in a breath as warmth washed over her and she rolled over, pushing herself up in the tall grass. Around her, the forest rustled and the wind whispered, the evening sky darkening against the edge of the clearing. Standing in the shade of the old shrine, she looked around, confused, as her mind tried to catch up with her.
Finally, she murmured, "W-What…?"
"You are bold, for one so tiny." A booming voice rumbled, and she turned, staring at a far cleaner knight than she had been with so far. He didn't turn as she came to him, instead simply sighing and saying. "To throw yourself at such a beast, so poorly armed and untrained… Bold, but so very foolish, young Alex."
"You… Speak English?" She asked, standing beside him.
"Ah, no." He chuckled, turning to meet her gaze, blue eyes peering out from behind his mask. "You are speaking Astoran, young one. Our Humanities have joined, if only for a moment, and with that you and I have shared all that we know. Before I release your soul into the hereafter, and whatever fate the Lords have decreed you to."
"My…" The understanding hit her like a fist to the gut, and she dropped to the dirt, staring off at nothing as she murmured the words. "I'm… Dead?"
"Indeed." He rumbled, "Felled in the attempt to save me. An irony…"
"I-Irony?"
"Indeed." He repeated, "For I am the one meant to do the saving. Yet, as ever, I have failed…"
For a while, she could only sit there, eventually turning to look out at her home city in the distance. Spared of any damage, in whatever… Place they were in, it glimmered in the evening light. Beautiful and full of life and history. The heart of the only world she had ever known, and the home she and her friends and family had lived their lives in. Until the Covenant had come…
And killed almost everyone she knew.
Almost…
"I-Is Evilyn alive?"
"Yes."
"Can you save her?"
"No." He answered quietly, "I am… Weakened, and wounded. In this place, our minds, we perceive time differently. But in the waking world, the ape looms over me, hammer in hand. Prepared to end me, at least for a time."
"You can't heal?"
"I lack the strength or time for a Miracle." He answered flatly, joining her in watching the distant city. "And lack the time for Estus as well. Without Humanity to subsume, I lack any way to recover in time to survive. And by the time the weeks have passed betwixt my death and return, she will surely be dead or gone."
"But… You have mine, right?" She murmured, brows furrowing as an idea started to shape itself in her mind. "A-And what do you mean… Subsume?"
"When Humanity is left for long enough, it… Distilled. The person it belongs to moves on, to the hereafter, and leaves behind their strength and knowledge." He explained, "While it can be consumed in direct, and is indeed the more potent, it… Vanishes the person to whom it belonged."
"But… It would work."
"I'm sorry?"
"If you…" She took a breath and stood, watching the city in the distance, and went on. "If you subsumed me, o-or whatever, could you do it? Could you save Evilyn? T-The others, too? The Pelicans are loading people on the top of the mall, so-"
"I could, but I will not." He cut her off, standing and turning to stare down at her as she turned to meet his gaze and, in spite of herself, held her ground. Quietly, he argued, "You would… Cease, Alex Masters. Ata fundamental level."
"You know that for sure?"
"It… Is what I was taught."
"So you don't." She argued, "But we do know that everyone left that I care about will die if you don't do it."
"I called you bold." He growled, "But were you merely a fool?"
"I'm not a fool!
"Then what are you?!"
"I'm… I'm someone that's spent their whole life afraid!" She argued, waving a hand at the distant city. "Like everyone else here! Terrified of what would happen when the Covenant came! Scared of dying! A-And all day, I've done nothing but be saved. Be protected. And I just… I don't want to lose everything, Vin. A-And I almost have."
"Is that why you threw yourself at the beast?"
"I just…" She shrugged, "I couldn't let the Brute take more from me. And once you were gone, they'd run me down anyways. I can't outrun a Brute…"
"I see." He rumbled. And there was no judgement there, that she could hear. Instead, there was simple understanding. Quietly, he said, "Then take your rest. You will find peace in the next realm and-"
"You don't know that!"
"Is it not at least worth hoping for a better life?" The knight asked quietly, shaking his head wearily at her sigh. "Or… Or whatever comes after?"
"And if there isn't anything?"
"The Lords teach that there must be Light after-"
"I don't want whatever you think comes after this!" She argued hotly, anger at… At everything welling up in her chest. Taking a shaky breath, she said, "I want what's left of my people to survive! And I want the Covenant stopped. And you… You can help do that. But not if you're trapped on some… Glassed, ruined world."
"Alex…"
"Please, Vin." She pressed, stepping closer to him. Pleadingly, she pressed, "Let me be the hero, for one god damned time in my life. Just this once. Let me save what's left of my people, before it's too late for any of them. And let me save you before you end up… Stuck here, all alone, for who knows how long. While everything else I know dies…"
"...You are certain this is your desire?"
"No." She sighed, turning to look out on the city one last time as the knight seemed to relent, at last. "But I'm going to do it anyways, because what I want is already gone. All I have left is a hope for… For justice, I guess, stupid as it sounds."
"It does not sound stupid." Vin argued, laying a hand on her shoulder. As the world began to darken, and night settled in and brought a chill with it, he went on, "It is your will, my young friend. And while I disagree with your choice, I will not shame you by refusing it. Nor waste your sacrifice in saving me by spurning you now."
"Good." She sighed, blinking as her vision darkened suddenly. "What…"
"It is time to say farewell." He murmured gently, "Rest, young one. And hope my teachings were wrong."
She opened her mouth to speak, but words refused to come. Instead, her knees buckled as her strength left her. But whenever hit the ground. Instead, cold washed over her, and…
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Boratus rumbled a laugh as his clan rushed up the steps and the giant's arm dropped, defeated, to the concrete below. Hefting his hammer he spat on the titan and laughed, booming in the Human tongue, so those not yet dead could hear it and quake, "A Demon falls to my hammer! Let all look on the trophy I make of you and fear the name Boratus!"
But, as his Chieftain's Hammer came down, the titan's hand snapped up, catching the weight of the blow before the blade could take him at the neck.
"Boratus, was it?" The Titan rumbled, ignoring the impact and Boratus' own struggle to take it back. He watched the titanic man push himself up on a hand as rock and dirt melted away, the edges of his cloak and armor beginning to almost… Glow, as if super-heated. Still holding the head of Boratus' hammer, Boratus looked up into his crimson eyes as he rumbled, "I shall endeavor to remember the name of one to make such a grave mistake."
"What mistake?" He asked, watching the Covenant around them turn, watching him struggling to get his hammer free of the monster's grip.
"Your clan challenged me, and killed… Killed my friend." He rumbled, the words seeming to roll through the air and into Boratus' very chest. Filling him with an old emotion he'd long since thought buried - terror. "Now, you all die for it. And die knowing that on this day I vow…"
"Your 'Covenant' shall burn." The head of the might hammer shattered under his fingers and the Titan moved, hand snapping out to take him by the throat. Chocking, Boratus was hoisted high and the Titan finished. "Starting with you."
The last thing he was aware of was the immense heat that washed over him, radiating out of his throat. But no pain came. Only… Darkness.
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Something a bit dark, for Alex's ending - but this is Dark Souls, and Halo. And a world under siege with nary a ship or Spartan in sight. How did you expect this to go? Lmao
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Cake Boss :
He's an original- Albeit an MC from the first game, as likely revealed by the location he was in and his armor.
ODST Rules :
I often do things. And sometimes stuff! XD
Newgraywolf :
In spite of setting, I tend to approach everything from a realistic perspective, as much as is possible. So of course he'd have to break free, and free up his eyes and mouth to see and breathe, and is slowed a bit as the rock breaks away. It's something of a point of pride, lol.
Sluggy Buggy :
Yeah, there's a few, lol.