The Caustic Sea. One of the many locations within Doom that seemed to exist only to kill everything that entered it. If SOMEHOW there was something, ANYTHING at all, living within the endless acidic ocean, it was entirely unknown.

A few theories were conceived by those who weren't natives of Doom as to why the Caustic Sea existed. One proposed the idea that this was the natural habit of the Cacodemons. The bile they spewed was equal to the Caustic Sea regarding the terrifying efficiency of its dissolving properties. Another suggested that it could be a resource the Demons used for something. What that something might be depended on one's imagination.

However, even with theories being offered, there was one explanation that was more-than-likely the actual truth. The Caustic Sea existed because Doom was Hell. Nothing about it was meant to be hospitable. The entirety of the realm was actively trying to kill you before any of its Demons could.

Although, for one person in particular, that was never the impression he got. Sure, Doom was a perplexing space defying all known conventions and universal laws of other realities. Yet, was it truly as deadly as the monsters that called it home? Could it be an equal danger to the horrors lurking in its shadows? Previously, that individual would've decided no.

But now, as his body sank deeper into the Caustic Sea, Doomguy would say otherwise. Doom was as dangerous as its Demons. It was actively trying to do the one thing its denizens had long failed at. Yet, be it due to luck or stubbornness, his soul wouldn't be claimed today.

It took Doomguy longer than it should've to come out of his unconscious state. The acid that surrounded him filled his insides. Internally and externally, everything was on fire. The Caustic Sea wanted desperately to reduce its latest victim to nothing.

Unfortunately for the hostile ocean, its prey would escape. Awaking with a voiceless scream at the pain that enveloped his body, Doomguy quickly swam to the surface. After nearly a minute of frantic motion, he breached.

GASP

Air. It was hot, like the Caustic Sea. Still, it was better than acid. A great deal of which was being violently coughed up by Doomguy. However, there was no time to waste; he'd been in this torturous tide long enough.

Despite having blurred vision, partly from the pain and partly from the acid, Doomguy quickly surveyed his surroundings. In the distance, an undeniable sight was found. A land mass somehow existed in this unending green nightmare. That was the only haven.

Enduring the pain with gritted teeth, Doomguy swam to the shore. It took ten minutes, which did neither him nor his suit any favors. When Doomguy finally made it to land, he nearly lost consciousness again. Exhaustion and pain. Both were plentiful.

Flipping onto his back, Doomguy barely lifted his head to assess the damage done to him by the Caustic Sea. The armor was in tatters. So much had been consumed by the acid, and what remained was in a horrid state. As for the Doomguy's body, it, too, was in a rough state.

From head to toe, there were burns. Thankfully, none of them were too deep. Some did go past the skin and into the muscles, but none reached the bones beneath.

Even so, this was a pain never felt by Doomguy. Was it the worse? No. Tragically, in his long life, there'd been so many hardships that even a deep soak in an acidic ocean wasn't the worst experience he'd ever been through.

However, as Doomguy began to cough again, blood came out of him instead of acid. It made sense that there was some internal damage. How much? Impossible to know.

Yet, if Doomguy were to guess, it was about as ugly on the inside as on the outside. Miserable. Agonizing. Unpleasant in every sense.

So, Doomguy decided to rest for as long as he could. He was all alone. No Demons for miles in any direction. He would savor this respite for as long as it lasted.

Meanwhile, On Mars...

"For the last time, no," Samuel said sternly while standing before the Slipgate.

After witnessing Doomguy be consumed by an endless ocean of acid, understandably, many people were distressed. Furthermore, specific persons wanted to do something to help him. Of course, the most logical and reasonable decision was to open another portal to Doom. What could go wrong?

Everything. Literally. The sheer number of problems, complications, risks, and dangers of doing that was damn near infinite. Fortunately, the ONLY person who could make the technology of the Mars complex do anything was Samuel Hayden. Preventing everyone else from doing something suicidal.

"Samuel! We have to help him!" Charlie exclaimed with a glare, going so far as to stomp her foot to appear more authoritative.

"Everyone, please, gain control over your emotions." Samuel requested. "Think about this rationally. Somehow, the Demons could react to a portal appearing in a random part of their domain. This would be a different situation if any other creature had come through or attacked my partner. But because it was the Cyberdemon, a VERY deliberate choice, any further rifts we create could be met with the same reaction. Granted, if we made preparations, I could set up several automated turrets equipped with the same weapons as my associate. The Demons then would be walking into a firing squad. Unfortunately, once they realized what was happening, they'd send everything. Imps and Lost Souls to Hell Knights and Barons. A second invasion of Mars could happen right then and there. The risk of a rescue operation at this time is far too great." He told them.

"I concur," Gabriel spoke, surprising everyone.

"What? Why?" Charlie questioned, astounded by her Uncle's words.

"Ignoring the obvious fact that all of us are still so ignorant about this, as Lilith mentioned earlier, looking at this situation from all angles shows that Samuel's thinking is sound." Gabriel began as he raised his left hand to count the following points with his fingers. "We don't know what these foul monsters are thinking. We're unaware of their current numbers at Doomguy's location. If they were ready to ambush him should another portal be summoned, they'll likely use him as a lure. They know we won't leave Doomguy alone for long; we're not cruel as they are. But if we rush forward without planning, we leave ourselves vulnerable. We must consider our approach. After we do, then we can aid Doomguy." He explained.

"But how? How will we plan for something that, as you said, we still don't know much about? Samuel and Olivia are the only ones who know anything about Doom. Regardless of how long we take to prepare, once we're through the portal, if we become surrounded by Demons, we'll be helpless." Vagatha said.

"I won't be," Gabriel replied, shocking them worse than before.

"Hold on!" Michael quickly exclaimed. "Gabriel, you can't be suggesting what I think you are!" He carried on in disbelief.

"Who else would be appropriate?" Gabriel asked while placing a hand on his chest. "Of everyone present, I believe I have the most combat experience and skill. That's taking into consideration you, Azrael, and Lilith. Each of you has your strengths and would be well-suited for a fight. However, a few other important details make me the best candidate."

"Like what?!" Michael interrupted, causing his Brother to sigh.

"Well, for starters, Michael..." Gabriel resumed speaking after his sibling's outburst. "Unlike you, I can maintain my composure even in frenetic scenarios. Furthermore, as previously stated, I outclass you in combat. Never have you come close to beating me in our sparring matches." He stated.

"...I...guess that's true..." Michael reluctantly acknowledged. He couldn't object to his Brother's reasoning.

"Moving on to Azrael. Although she could make quick work of the Demons as they began their approach. If Doom's legions are endless, as we have been told, even her abilities wouldn't be enough. Combine that with her lack of combat prowess, and she'd be overwhelmed before too long." Gabriel said.

"Sadly, Gabriel speaks the truth. I've never had a reason or want to fight. If Doomguy is to be used as an example of resistance to my power, I'm confident many of Doom's Demons would resist me." Azrael responded.

"Lastly, there is Lilith. I mean no offense when I say this, but comparatively, I do outclass you in every regard where this situation is concerned." Gabriel stated, making his In-Law laugh.

"No offense taken, Gabriel. I'm more suited to supervise in these circumstances." Lilith assured with a smile.

"Gabriel," Samuel spoke, getting everyone's attention back on him. "We've only just met, and barely at that. I don't doubt that you are as capable as you are powerful. However, I still feel uneasy sending you to Doom. If something else happens, it will be my fault for sending you there. I...can't allow another innocent life to die because of me." He told him.

That last sentence brought a pause in the conversation. The way Samuel said it carried so much weight. There didn't need to be an explanation. The others could tell this was a scenario he'd been through before.

Of course, the sole exception to this was Olivia. She knew the full story. It hadn't occurred to her until now that Doomguy's current situation was undoubtedly forcing memories to appear in Samuel's mind. If Olivia or the others were in his position, they too would want to prevent anyone else from suffering because of Doom. However, risks needed to be taken. There was no other way to save Doomguy.

"Your concern for me is appreciated, Samuel. More so for that of my loved ones." Gabriel began as he moved closer to the mechanical man. "But please, be honest with me. Is there any other way to rescue Doomguy? If there was, I'm confident you'd already be in the process of executing it. Yet, since we are all gathered here, I believe your true intention thus far was to stall the inevitable. You knew when we lost contact with Doomguy that someone would need to extract him. And, as I've explained, I am the only proper candidate. Anyone else would most certainly be marching onto death." He said.

"...I should expect no less from an Archangel. Your perception...is flawless." Samuel hesitantly responded, confirming Gabriel's deduction. "But if we are going to send you there, I must insist you take some devices of my design. They'll assist in your escape should the Demons prevent another portal from opening on our end." He stated.

"Of course. I will follow every instruction and order you give and take any essential equipment. I will not argue." Gabriel assured.

"Then...let's get moving. If my partner is not meant to be a lure and was the intended target, we don't have much time before the Demons get to him." Samuel said, receiving a nod from the Archangel and the others.

Meanwhile, In Doom...

Dead. Alive. Doomguy wasn't sure what he was. He lost consciousness soon after he laid himself on the only discernable land mass in the Caustic Sea.

When Doomguy woke up, he could barely feel anything. He didn't feel cold or have a total absence of sensation, but it was nearly all numb. The damage the acid had done was finally set in. Doomguy felt confident he could still stand if needed, but he wouldn't be stable.

Then again, what if this wasn't life? What if, as crazy as it sounded, Doomguy perished in the green ocean? After all, he was already in Hell. Where would his soul go? Would it not remain exactly where it was as the corporeal vessel dissolved?

Most likely not. That'd be far too convenient for Doomguy. If he truly had died, then this fatigue was entirely mental. In that version of the present, he'd be perfectly fine if he overcame the belief of being weakened due to acidic muscle damage. Yet, even if that were true, the space marine wouldn't be much better off.

Regardless of Doomguy's actual state of being, his suit was undeniably destroyed. Ignoring the lack of extra protection, he was without his arsenal. The only way Doomguy could defend himself would be with his fists. Normally, that wouldn't be an issue. But there was the aforementioned complication of his body being viciously eaten by acid.

At this point, Doomguy began to wonder about Samuel and the others. What were they doing? Samuel was likely being pragmatic. The others were probably a maelstrom of emotions and outbursts. But...were either crazy enough to try and mount a rescue operation?

Surely not...right? Samuel had to be stressing to them the importance of not giving Doom any opportunities whatsoever. However, Doomguy wasn't in the best condition right now. Although, as mentioned prior, this wasn't the worst he'd ever been.

Before Doomguy received the Praetor suit, he had his original UAC-issued combat uniform. As time passed and the fighting intensified, it didn't take long until it was little more than tattered rags and armor shards. Combine that with Doomguy still being no different than a normal human male, and one can start to paint the picture of his life in Hell.

Broken bones? Better mend them quickly; the Demons are coming! On the verge of starving? Hope you enjoy consuming the corpses of your foes; that's all there is. Infections? Use the fires of Hell itself to burn them out of your system. A severe lack of sleep due to the constant presence of enemies? Start a fight and get the adrenaline pumping; it'll get you through a couple more hours.

The vigor of Doomguy's former unhinged Demon-killing obsessed psyche was gone. The harsh reality of living in Hell as a mortal became his reality. Compared to now, Doomguy would still want to be thrown into the Caustic Sea if given a choice. Literal torture was a better alternative to that period of survival.

If things had played out differently, Doomguy would likely be hidden in a cave in this Hellscape. Somehow, he managed to find one decent soul in this miserable place. Without their assistance, the space marine would've remained precisely that. Never would Doomguy have been able to become the unstoppable demigod that he was now.

FWOOSH...CRASH

Those sounds interrupted the wounded soldier's thoughts. It came from the ocean. As Doomguy struggled to raise his head a second time to investigate the noises, he witnessed a disturbing sight. Even for him, it was gruesome.

The Cyberdemon. It, too, had fallen into the Caustic Sea. Unfortunately, due to its weight and cybernetic components quickly dissolving, it couldn't swim. So, the behemoth was forced to crawl across the ocean floor.

How did the Cyberdemon manage to find Doomguy? Did it see where he landed as well as the landmass? These weren't questions the space marine pondered at the moment. Of course, that was justifiable, considering how a highly-eroded monster was pulling itself towards him.

The sounds from before were the Cyberdemon's remaining arm emerging from the acid before crashing down onto the shore. The obsidian-like material that made the creature's body was impressively resistant, faring better than Doomguy's suit. Still, most of the Cyberdemon was gone. It was little more than an upper torso, arm, and head.

Everything below the chest was gone. The horns were melted. Half of the Cyberdemon's face was missing, allowing the fire within its body to flare out. Even now, with such injuries, it had one thing on its mind. This was it. Doomguy was going to die.

At least, that's what the Cyberdemon undoubtedly thought. From the space marine's perspective, this scene, while astounding, was also incredibly stupid. Despite being injured, Doomguy was confident he could kick his leg enough times to destroy the rest of the Cyberdemon's head. All he needed to do was wait for the pitiful bastard to get close enough to do it.

BOOM

An explosion of some sort. It caused a massive cloud of debris and dust, obscuring Doomguy's vision. Yet, not a second later, the hazy mass dispersed, revealing the source of the explosion to be an ornate-looking spear. The cause? A powerful gust created by a set of Angelic wings.

"Doomguy!" The thunderous voice of Gabriel called from above. Soon after, the Archangel descended and appeared at the wounded man's side.

However, upon his arrival, Gabriel was frozen. From the sky, he'd been unable to assess Doomguy's condition. Now that they were mere inches apart, Gabriel was overcome with fear and concern.

"Are you alright!?" Gabriel shouted in alarm, only to shake his head immediately afterward. "Forgive that foolish statement! I apologize! What I meant was, are you still alive? Are you conscious? Can you, at all, hear the words I speak?" He frantically asked, doing his best to regain his composure.

Very rarely did Gabriel panic. It was so uncommon that if you asked any member of his family to recall a time when he was unsettled, they'd be unable to offer a memory. But even the Archangel couldn't keep from being distressed when he saw Doomguy's condition. If this were anyone else, they'd most assuredly be deceased by now.

Fortunately, Doomguy stared into Gabriel's eyes and nodded. That alone helped to settle the Archangel's nerves a great deal.

"Thank the Heavens. A miracle." Gabriel said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Then again, this does confirm everything my Niece and Sister have shared about you. They told us you had survived more than any soul, including my family, could endure. This is more than enough proof to substantiate those claims." He continued to speak as he gently placed his hands on Doomguy's body. "I want to heal you, but we haven't the time. Samuel urged that the Demons would be here with haste, making our escape all the more difficult. I need to carry you in my arms. Do I have your permission?" He inquired.

In reply, Doomguy nodded. After that, he was lifted by Gabriel from the ground. This did force the space marine to wince as it agitated his wounds. But that was no fault of the Archangel; it was an unavoidable nuisance.

However, before Gabriel did or said anything else, Doomguy slowly lifted his arm and pointed it at the Cyberdemon. Who was now clearly visible with the cloud having been cleared.

"Do not worry. I impaled the monster with my spear. Its Divine power has purged its-"

Gabriel stopped there. Following Doomguy's direction, he looked at the assumed dead Cyberdemon. Only to discover that it still lived.

Granted, the beast was most certainly impaled. The Cyberdemon couldn't move from where it was stuck. Yet, that didn't keep it from trying. Despite the Divine power of the spear draining its strength, the Cyberdemon continued to lift and lower its arm to pull itself toward them.

But that wasn't what Gabriel was focused on. Instead, his gaze was fixated on the fire within the Cyberdemon. Unknown to Doomguy, one of his assumptions about his adversary was now proven true. The flames were the Cyberdemon's soul.

Gabriel could gaze into the beast's soul. What the Archangel saw left him speechless. The emotions of the Cyberdemon spoke to him. This is what was heard:

MINE! HE'S MINE! KILL! KILL THE SLAYER! RELEASE HIM! RELEASE ME! HE WILL DIE! I WILL KILL HIM! MINE! HE'S MINE!

Hatred. Bloodlust. A primordial desire to destroy. Never before had Gabriel seen anything like this. There was no fear in the Cyberdemon's soul. It cared not for its pain. Its sole desire was to kill Doomguy. That was the only thing that mattered.

In silence, Gabriel set Doomguy back on the ground. Although unsure of what was happening, the space marine decided to observe rather than attempt to interrupt. In doing so, he watched the Archangel approach the Cyberdemon, remove his spear from its body in one motion, and then plunge it into its skull.

Through the top of the head and out of the bottom. Then, for good measure, Gabriel pulled the spear like a lever. This caused the Cyberdemon's head to twist off like a bottle cap. At last, the fires of its soul disappeared; the body was now a husk.

"I'm sorry. I...should've said something to you." Gabriel apologized again as he removed his weapon from the corpse. "I just...had to kill that...thing. What I saw in its soul...disturbed me. I...can't recall ever feeling such disgust at the contents of any creature's essence. There was nothing but an insatiable craving for violence. Even the most depraved and deprived of souls have SOMETHING more to them. Anything. But...there wasn't with this monster..." He explained.

In response, Doomguy did nothing. A nod wouldn't make too much sense. But that was fine. Gabriel wasn't expecting anything from him.

With that out of the way, the Archangel lifted the space marine into his arms once more. The spear remained summoned. It hovered around Gabriel's person; he could control it without direct contact. This would help protect them should something happen.

"Samuel needs us to reposition ourselves for extraction." Gabriel began while spreading his wings. Like the rest of him, the white-feathered appendages were radiant. "This entire region is being protected by something Arcane. Possibly, that is how the Demons controlled the portal's location during the demonstration. Although, that is only a theory." He continued as he flew into the air. "We need to escape the presumed barrier's influence. There is an apparatus gifted to me by Samuel that shall make noise once a connection is established. When this happens, we'll need a few seconds before the extraction can be completed." He concluded.

This time, Doomguy nodded. As expected, Samuel had a plan at the ready. Whether or not it'd proceed without issue was yet to be seen. If Doomguy were a betting man, he'd wager the odds weren't good.

With impressive speed, Gabriel went higher. Soon, a series of floating islands and other landmasses passed the duo's vision. Still, there was no reaction from the device.

"A minute or so more," Gabriel informed Doomguy. "I arrived far above here. I remember the location well. I know we'll be ready to depart when it comes into view." He told him.

Again, Doomguy nodded. As Gabriel kept his focus on flying, the space marine looked around to ensure there wasn't anything suspicious. To his misfortune, it took only a few seconds for his well-trained eyes to spot something.

In the distance, approaching fast, was an unknown airborne horde. Initially, Doomguy couldn't tell what Demons comprised the group. But then, he noticed something behind what he was staring at. Long trails of black smoke. The type you would see coming from something propelled by rockets.

When realizing what that meant, Doomguy nudged the Archangel with his elbow. After gaining Gabriel's attention, he pointed at the incoming hostiles.

"...I see them," Gabriel confirmed. "We'll arrive at our destination before they reach us." He said, confident in his speed.

The advancing enemies weren't what Doomguy worried about. He knew only one type of Demon that used rocket propulsion to move, excluding the recent upgrades to the Cyberdemon. If he was correct in his assumption, something far worse was in store for them. Sadly, this wasn't a day where Doomguy's knowledge failed him.

Not long after noticing the entities on the horizon, the soldier and the Archangel witnessed a shocking change. Several bright flashes of light occurred, followed by more trails of black smoke appearing. Afterward, a swarm of fast-moving objects could be discerned. There was no confusion as to what they were.

Without speaking any words, Gabriel sent his spear forward. It took little effort to eliminate the threat. Like a string of dominos, once a few missiles exploded, the rest detonated in a chain reaction. When this happened, a massive body of black smoke formed.

However, this proved to be disadvantageous. Now, neither Gabriel nor Doomguy could see their foes. Was this smokescreen planned? If so, it wasn't by their attackers. They weren't smart enough for such a tactic. It would have to be the work of a far more intelligent Demon.

Regardless of whether or not it was planned, as Doomguy expected, another volley shot out from the cloud. This time, Gabriel didn't destroy the projectiles. They needed to maintain their vision while depriving their enemies of more cover.

"Hold on," Gabriel told Doomguy. The space marine listened and grabbed onto the Archangel's body.

Opting for a different strategy, Gabriel flew faster. Unsurprisingly, the missiles tracked his movement and followed. Yet, this wasn't the end of the Archangel's movement. He began to fly in a sporadic pattern, almost nonsensically.

However, this was done solely to interfere with the missile's tracking capabilities. The duo was surrounded by countless large fragments of stone and sizable land masses. In addition to confusing the pursuing projectiles, Gabriel hoped they'd collide with the floating terrain. Luckily, his cleverness paid off.

One after the other, the missiles flew into something, be it the surrounding environment or themselves. After a minute or so of evasion, the second volley was gone. Yet Gabriel and Doomguy hadn't forgotten that they were being chased. A new course of action was needed to ensure their safe escape.

"Forgive me for asking for your assistance, given your current state. But, of the two of us, you ARE the expert. Do you have any suggestions?" Gabriel inquired while looking at his passenger.

For a few seconds, Doomguy closed his eyes. He did his best to map out the parts of Doom he had memorized. Fortunately, the Caustic Sea was one of them. In his countless travels, Doomguy had often needed to find a way through or around the acidic ocean.

One such traversal method was navigating the gravity-deprived land masses that surrounded them. It, in a sense, served as a sort of hub area for the nearby locales. Several places could be reached by jumping across the stones and islands. Quite a few of them had caverns and caves that could be used.

Taking a quick but attentive look around, Doomguy searched for the largest body near them. Not too far from their current position, a few kilometers at most, was an island that, amazingly, the space marine recognized. Upon making this discovery, Doomguy pointed in the direction he wanted Gabriel to go. With no words, the Archangel followed the instruction and changed his flight path.

From there, Doomguy would continue to guide his Angelic carrier. After landing on the island, Gabriel was directed to an opening that would take the duo underground. With haste, the pair were soon out of the open.

"Once again, you impress, Doomguy." Gabriel complimented his company as he withdrew his wings. "Even my memory isn't so impressive to recall a specific location amidst an endless array of identical-looking floating isles." He carried on before closing his eyes. "Although, admittedly, it does make wonder. How often were you forced to traverse this terrain to the point where you can recall a particular place?" He pondered aloud.

Surprisingly, Doomguy had a response to this. With a light tug on the Archangel's robe to make him reopen his eyes, the space marine gestured for Gabriel to proceed further into the cave. Simultaneously confused and curious, Gabriel obeyed this command. After all, Doomguy was the expert; he said so himself. Whatever was in here must be important to warrant this behavior.

Step by step, Gabriel went deeper and deeper. How far did this passage go? As time began to pass with no change in scenery, the Archangel wondered if they'd be walking forever. But then, after a short while, the duo reached a new locale.

A room. That's the first thing that came to Gabriel's mind. The walls were too smooth to be natural. Furthermore, marks on the cave floor suggested someone, or something, had frequented the area. Was...this a former home of Doomguy's? A safe space from the Demons?

However, before Gabriel could voice a question, Doomguy tugged on his robe again to get his attention. Once obtained, the space marine pointed to another room connected to this one. Despite wanting desperately to ask questions, the Archangel held his tongue. This wasn't the time for needless interrogation or inquiry.

Following Doomguy's order, Gabriel entered the second room. His vision took a few moments to adjust to the darkness fully. When it did, the Archangel stopped moving. What he saw was far more perplexing than anything thus far.

Myriad devices, inventions, and contraptions filled the space. This looked like someone's workshop, but the technology was entirely foreign to Gabriel. Even compared to Samuel's back on Mars, everything in sight had a distinct appearance and architecture. At this point, Gabriel could remain silent no longer.

"I...don't understand..." Gabriel said in bewilderment. "Doomguy, is this a home of yours? Did you use this place to tend to your weapons and suit?" He guessed.

Shockingly, Doomguy shook his head. But before Gabriel could press him on the subject, he pointed to something in the room. Following where the finger had landed, the Archangel was stunned again. There was a device here, in this odd place, that he recognized.

"Is...that a Slipgate?" Gabriel questioned, eyes fixated on the apparatus resting against the far wall. "But...isn't that one of Samuel's inventions? How is it here?" He asked.

Doomguy offered no new response. He kept his hand pointed at the gateway, wanting more than just the Archangel to acknowledge its existence. Understanding the demand, Gabriel carried the space marine to the presumed Slipgate. Specifically, he took Doomguy to the device's connected terminal.

Once in range, Doomguy wiped away the dust and small debris that coated the controls. There was no guarantee that what he hoped for would happen. But if it did, it'd be the first stroke of good luck in a very long time. So, with that hope held close, Doomguy set the coordinates and attempted to activate the machine.

...

...FWOOM

It...worked. Despite looking damaged and slightly decayed, the Slipgate came to life. Although to be truthful, the portal it generated was barely holding together. At any second, the rift could collapse; the duo needed to hurry.

"Is it safe?" Gabriel inquired, hesitating due to very reasonable concerns. "What if it malfunctions and sends us somewhere else? What if we get teleported to another location in Doom?" He added.

In reply, Doomguy shrugged his shoulders. The only alternative was to wait here for an unknowable amount of time for the skies outside to be clear. The duo either left through the Slipgate now or sat on their asses. It was up to the Archangel.

"...I'm starting to grasp how perilous your day-to-day life must've been...faced with monsters at your backside, gambles like this are VERY enticing..." Gabriel confessed, followed by a heavy sigh. "May my Father guide us back to safety. Assuming he is with us in this horrid Hell." He recited a quick prayer before walking through the portal with Doomguy in his arms.

Roughly ten seconds after the duo entered the rift, the Slipgate would cease its function. With its death, an uneasy stillness returned to the space it inhabited. A remnant from a time long since left in the ashes of the past.