Salvation Chapter 197: Trial: Doom, a Doom + Hazbin Hotel Crossover fanfic

Doomguy and the Wretch sat together in the center of the platform. Their backs were pressed against each other, and each one held something different. The space marine had the soul sphere that contained the victims of the Mars invasion. The former Demon held the Soul Cube with the Maykrs' souls in one of his hands while the bag that contained Flynn Taggart's remains rested beside him.

The others kept in constant contact through the Conjuration Cube, but only one person could use it at a time. Vega couldn't find them. The Helix Stones couldn't see them. The only explanation was that they were LITERALLY inside Doom's soul. That hadn't been considered a possibility for a very good reason.

When Eve & Daisy suggested that there might be something inside Doom's soul, both they and the others assumed it to be a location tied to the realm. Specifically, Doom's soul, which still appeared as a storm slowly moving through the realm, was thought to be a means of obstructing perception, sort of like a smokescreen. However, it was more complicated than that.

Doom had managed to create a separate reality within itself. Again, no one, not even Khan, had considered this a possibility because it was an entirely new concept. The understanding of souls and their properties was that you could only interact with them through ethereal means. Yet, Doomguy and the Wretch were certain they were physical, as was the environment that surrounded them. One piece of evidence was the Conjuration Cube since it was connected to a conscious soul back in Hell. If all of this were fake, then the others would've never been able to contact the men at all.

Still, what good was that communication? The space marine and the former Demon were trapped inside the actual entity known as Doom rather than the realm of the same name. Unlike in a situation such as what Samur did to Eve, there wasn't a way to do something while avoiding its notice. Even if Doom were focusing on something else and weren't actively observing its captives, it would FEEL any outside forces attempting to interact with it.

The only potential hope was Khan, but that idea was tested and proven unsuccessful. After connecting her soul to the Conjuration Cube, she arranged its markings in the hope of creating a portal. For the briefest of seconds, a flicker of time, if you will, a rift in reality flashed. Sadly, Doom's reaction was simultaneous with the attempt. Those two were equals, so there was no way of her overpowering it.

The single silver lining was Doom's honesty. Apart from preventing the Creator's attempts at providing an escape, it did nothing else. The assertion that they'd remain like this forever was genuine. However, what good was an endless amount of time when you didn't know what to do with it?

The only thing the others could do was try to understand how Doom accomplished this feat. But since it was new to everyone, there was no telling how long that'd take. Additionally, Doom ensuring Doomguy and the Wretch were incapable of leaving didn't imply that the Mother and Betruger were standing around doing nothing. Things were still happening whether or not these two were involved, which was a serious disadvantage for their allies.

But for as long as it made sense to, both men waited. Maybe when Eve and Daisy reached Hell, they'd be able to contribute something that'd solve this puzzle. Perhaps Vega just needed a couple of hours to run enough simulations. For all anyone knew, they were just one idea away from overcoming this obstacle!

...

Minutes became hours. Surprisingly, Doom was considerate enough to prevent Flynn's body from rotting. Or maybe time moved slower in here. There's also the possibility it wasn't running at all. It's not as if Doomguy and the Wretch could tell.

...

Out of boredom, the Wretch tried using any powers familiar to him. Expectedly, there was no reaction. The same happened to the energies stored in Doomguy's suit. It made him question if they would've even worked back in the arena. It was probably in Doom's soul as well.

...

The others maintained contact, even if it was just to chat. From what they could tell, time was moving at the same rate from both perspectives. It would seem that Doom wanted the struggle to be experienced simultaneously for all of them. Gee, how considerate.

...

In an attempt to keep spirits high, some of those back in Hell talked about what they'd do with the men when this was over. Angel Dust and Katie discussed how they'd spend their time together. Nifty, Rosie, and Octavia were the same, just without any romantic ideas. Rosie wanted those cooking lessons, Octavia wanted to teach him about the stars, and Nifty just wanted to hang out in whatever way they could. Daisy didn't reach out, but only because she was focused on rescuing her best friend.

As for the Wretch, he was bounced between Asmodeus, Fizzarolli, Verosika, and even Sonia. Funnily enough, all four of them wanted the same thing, which was to spend quality time with him in a familial way. Beelzebub's absence from these conversations was understandable. Vortex was comforting her since she couldn't stop blaming herself for what happened to Flynn.

Regarding the soldier's death, no one wanted to talk about it right now. The Carmines and Lute had gone off somewhere. Alaster remained with the others, but he wasn't saying much. Adam went to find his fellow Exorcist, not wanting her to be alone. Plus, he couldn't bring himself to be around Eve right now.

...

"Slayer," Wretch eventually spoke, choosing a moment when no one was using the Conjuration Cube. "I'm not suggesting anything. But between us, who would you sacrifice?" He asked.

"Me." Doomguy answered in his usual low volume. "All I can do is fight. You're the thinker, Wretch. You can do more." He reasoned.

"Your capableness is why we need you," Wretch argued.

"Give the others Praetors ASAP. Start doing treatments to empower them faster. What they lack is experience, but the Exorcists and Khan have us covered. They won't obtain my skills or experience, but they'll be built to survive. I'm a weapon, Wretch. Weapons can be reproduced. We need all the smarts we can get. The Mother, Betruger, and Doom all played us. We can't lose people like you." Doomguy countered.

"The collective knowledge that you, Eve, and Daisy have about Doom is more than enough to equal mine. Depending on how much the Maykrs and the men from Flynn's reality have seen, they could provide even more. I've given all of my best ideas already to the cause. The Praetor, the Soul Cube, and the Unmaker which has been reclaimed. I do not view myself as smart than Khan. Samuel, for a mortal, is remarkably intelligent. Then, there's Vega, who I would say could outsmart me with little issue. As for powers, although skilled, I am not special in that regard, either. What I am able to boast about are my skills, but the others will match them in due time. Between you and me, I'm the obvious choice." Wretch insisted.

"Agree to disagree, then." Doomguy said, making that the end of it.

...

"Flynn's armor is missing," Wretch commented, examining the remains after a while.

"How do the cuts look?" Doomguy inquired.

"Although the wounds are rough, they're deliberate. Flynn wasn't hacked to pieces mindlessly." Wretch informed him.

"They didn't want to damage the important parts. That means all of Flynn's equipment is theirs, too." Doomguy determined.

"Depending on how things played out, that could mean our enemies have a working BFG. With it, they'll be able to make more without issue." Wretch said.

"Well, we got the Unmaker. So, I'd say we're still better off." Doomguy replied.

...

"Wretch, I know we're in unknown territory. But still, do you have any ideas as to how we COULD get rescued?" Doomguy asked.

"Sincerely, if this were anyone else's soul, I'd say there are multiple ways. We don't need to understand how Doom has done this, only what prevents our exit. It is possible to take things from souls, such as their innate energies, and additional properties, like Arcane forces. Theoretically, even an entity of Doom's level could be drained or dampened in some way. However, much like your unbreakable resolve, there are certain aspects of a soul, dependent on which we examine, that cannot be influenced, altered, or taken. Our allies, given enough time, could create methods that would affect a few parts of Doom. But regardless if it came down to resolve or something else, because of Doom's nearly unequaled status, the only person who could attempt to challenge it would be Khan. Yet Doom, Betruger, and the Mother would keep her from making any worthwhile progress. The situation itself is not unsolvable, only the cause of it." Wretch answered.

"Could we hurt it from the inside? Khan can't open a portal, but what about Divine energy?" Doomguy suggested.

...

"Wretch?" Doomguy whispered, now turning to look at him.

The former Demon's face was locked into an expression of shock. Something had struck him, and he was quickly working through it in his mind.

"...Give...me...your...PDA..." Wretch requested as QUIETLY as he could.

Upon hearing that, the space marine turned back around. There was no way to tell if Doom was watching them or would notice if they started doing something. Discretion was necessary, and the former Demon knew that, too. As Doomguy moved one of his hands to his lower back to summon the PDA, which put both out of view, the Wretch placed the bag containing Flynn's remains on his lap. It was uncomfortable using the sack for cover, but it was the least suspicious way to conceal the PDA being used.

"Slayer, would you like to examine Flynn's remains as well? Maybe you can learn what Demon did him in." Wretch offered, providing them with a logical story for what was about to happen.

"Yeah, I want to know which Demon got the better of him." Doomguy responded, understanding the intent.

Both men turned to face each other, which made handing the bag over easier. The space marine put his hand on top of the former Demon's, allowing him to release the sack and the PDA without revealing anything. They'd stay facing each other like this during this interaction, so they wouldn't need to turn multiple times. As Doomguy pulled open the bag's mouth, he dropped the PDA inside so he could read what was on the screen. Again, it was horrible that Flynn's corpse was involved, but that couldn't be avoided.

"We have the Maykrs with us. Their souls, like Khan's, are pure Divine energy. We have two possibilities. The first one is complicated, and we would need to coordinate with the others carefully, making it the most complex option. Yet, it would give us a greater chance of success. The second option is to somehow create an opening from within Doom's soul by using the Maykrs. That's far simpler to accomplish, but it carries a heavy risk. If we fail, we squander our only opportunity."

"Hmm..." Doomguy hummed. As respectfully as he could, he moved Flynn's remains around. Like everything else, that was a necessary action so it wouldn't look like he was just sitting there doing nothing. "It had to be one of the cyborg Demons. Barons and Hell Knights wouldn't be so careful." He decided.

"I concur," Wretch replied.

The space marine chose to leave the PDA in the sack. Even if he were careful, it would still look like he was taking something out. The former Demon realized that immediately, but he wasn't surprised. If the order of turns were different, he would've done the same.

Afterward, the men reset to their previous positions. Whispering was far easier this way since their heads were as close as they could be.

"Communication. How?" Doomguy whispered. To avoid moving his mouth too much, he was going to be minimal with his words. Maybe that wouldn't help much, but there was no such thing as overly cautious in this scenario.

"Wait. It can't be us." Wretch whispered back, having the same idea.

...

"Guys, how are you holding up?" Katie's voice came from the Conjuration Cube. Expectedly, in a crisis, she was among those who kept their composure, even when Doomguy's life was at stake.

"We're managing, Miss Killjoy," Wretch said. Despite not discussing it, both men knew that he would be the best communicator. "I apologize if I sound rude, but could you please switch yourself with Khan?" He requested.

"Wretch, you could curse me out right now, and I'd still think you're being too polite for these circumstances." Katie told him with a chuckle, managing to make him smile.

"Given your history, I'm not sure I could come close to meeting your expectations of offense." Wretch remarked, escalating her chuckle to laughter.

"Yeah, I bet so," Katie agreed. Afterward, the Conjuration Cube went silent as she fetched the Creator.

...

"Hello?" Khan called once she was connected.

"Khan, would you be willing to sacrifice one of us to save your children?" Wretch asked. The immediateness and directness of the inquiry blindsided her.

"What?!" Khan reacted. Before she could say more, he continued speaking.

"The Slayer's soul is enhanced but is mainly notable for its resolve. My soul doesn't have much to offer other than my consciousness. Each of your children's souls is comprised of pure Divine essence, much like yourself. Frankly, I find the exchange of one child for one of us to be profitable. But we have all of them in this Soul Cube, which makes the trade even easier." Wretch said.

"Wretch! We're not going to lose someone else! Stop humoring such outlandish thoughts!" Khan exclaimed, disappointed in him.

"Khan, be rational. There is so much that can be done with the Divine power your children possess. They can heal any wounds, physical or ethereal. Their essence can be weaponized or used to support the rest of our warriors. Please, before you argue more, indulge me. Weigh the benefits gained from the Slayer's soul, mine, and your children's. Think of all that you could do with each option. Consider the choices carefully." Wretch insisted.

The Creature was speechless. Why was the former Demon bring this up all of a sudden?! Surely, he and the space marine hadn't given up hope yet! But for what other reason would he bring up the value of their souls?!

...

"You're right, Wretch," Khan reluctantly admitted. "The souls of my children are more valuable to our cause than yours. If we were to lay out the benefits gained by having them with us in comparison to you or William, it'd be a strategic blunder not to choose them." She said.

"I'm glad you're willing to acknowledge that," Wretch responded. "Please, do your best to convince the others. When they've accepted the truth, discuss among yourselves who you believe is the easiest loss between myself and the Slayer." He requested.

"They'll want to talk to you two," Khan warned.

"Then keep the Conjuration Cube from them. Do not allow anyone else to contact us until you've reached a decision." Wretch advised.

After that, the connection ended. The men let a few seconds of silence pass by before whispering.

"Good?" Doomguy inquired.

"If not, soon." Wretch replied.

"Sure?" Doomguy pressed.

"Yes." Wretch promised.

Although neither man could know at this time, the hope that the Creator figured it out immediately was reality. She didn't perfectly guess what the former Demon wanted her to think, but she still deduced that he wanted her to focus on the properties of the souls mentioned. Something was there, and the others were sure to realize it just as the men had.

...

"Hey!" The voice of Angel Dust called out from the Conjuration Cube. "Will! You can hear me, right?" He asked.

"Yeah," Doomguy answered. Even though he was visible from the Conjuration Cube's perspective, meaning a nod could've been seen, he wanted to give a verbal confirmation.

"Good, because I've got a lot to say you, you big dumb bastard!" Angel Dust exclaimed.

"..." Doomguy picked up the Conjuration Cube and brought it close to his face. "Are you angry?" He inquired.

"You're goddamn right I am!" Angel Dust began, ready to go off on a rant. "What's the fucking matter with you, huh?! Aren't you supposed to be the Doom Slayer or something? And yet, you're sitting around on that armored ass of yours, making ALL of us worried! You FINALLY got what you wanted, didn't you?! You're there, dumbass! The fucking center of Doom! What're you waiting for?! Kick its ass!" He ordered.

"I would if Doom presented itself, Angel. But that's not the case." Doomguy replied.

"Excuses!" Angel Dust claimed. "Why not use the Soul Cube, huh?! It can capture souls, can't it? That's what Wretch designed it for!" He suggested.

"It's a different type of Soul Cube. This one is meant to be a prison and nothing else." Doomguy informed him.

"So?! You kill Demons with a fucking chainsaw!" Angel Dust countered. "Just start bashing that shit against the pillar you're sitting on! Break that bitch! I bet Doom would show up if you started fucking things up!" He reasoned.

"Impossible. The Soul Cube's too sturdy to be used as a bludgeon." Wretch chimed in.

"HEY! SHUT THE FUCK UP OVER THERE!" Angel Dust yelled.

"Angel, Wretch would know." Doomguy said.

"He doesn't know shit!" Angel Dust argued. "Wretch is supposed to be some master Arcanist, right? And yet, this dumb bitch hasn't even TRIED to do ANYTHING with the Conjuration Cube! The fuck would he know about the Soul Cube? Oh, big-fucking-deal, he invented the damn thing. But that doesn't mean he's the only expert! I bet his useless ass couldn't even get one spell out of the Conjuration Cube. Even some basic shit like a fireball or something. You're the guy Doom locked up forever, so hurry up and quit making use scared shitless!" He demanded before ending the connection.

The Spider Demon's performance was great, if a little dramatic. However, in an atmosphere like this, it wasn't out of place. The Conjuration Cube and the Soul Cube. There was something there. The former Demon couldn't use his abilities, but that wasn't a problem. The Maykrs' souls could act as a power source. Yet, there were a few unknowns.

1. Were the Maykrs conscious? The Soul Cube's weapon components had been removed, but nothing was added in their place. The Mother had mentioned small improvements, but there was no way to know what they were. Still, if the bulk of the Soul Cube's design remained intact, that meant the Maykrs were aware of what was happening. The reason they hadn't moved is because they couldn't. The weapon parts doubled as the Soul Cube's method of transport. Regarding the Maykrs' silence, it could've been a smart move on their part that they'd been maintaining this entire time. Unfortunately, like the question of whether or not they were conscious, that was a fifty-fifty gamble.

2. How could both cubes come together? Doing it so blatantly would be noticed if Doom was still watching, which there was no reason to assume it wasn't. Something had to happen that could bring both cubes into contact.

3. Buying time. If everything was in the men's favor, the last obstacle was the Conjuration Cube's markings. The Maykrs would need time to arrange them into something useful. There was also the possibility that the assortment for a portal summoning was still intact from when Khan attempted it earlier, but they shouldn't recklessly believe that.

Try as he might, the Wretch was struggling. There had to be a way to pull this off. From what Angel Dust had said, it seemed like the only option available was on their end. The others couldn't do much at this time. But Doom was watching both men! How could either one-

THUMP

Two armored hands grabbed onto the former Demon's shoulders. A second later, he was tossed across the platform. As he hit the ground and skidded a small distance before stopping, he looked at the culprit. Who else could it have been?

"I'm sorry, Wretch," Doomguy apologized, picking up both cubes from the ground. "I've been trapped in Doom long enough. You're the one who reached out to the Mother. You're the one who made this bargain happen. This mess is YOUR fault. So, you should be the one who takes responsibility." He told him.

"...Slayer..." Wretch muttered, remaining on the ground. "Please! Wait! You know what Doom will do to me!" He pleaded.

"And you know what will happen to me," Doomguy said as he approached. "They tried locking me up once. What do you think will be my fate this time? Maybe the Demons will tie an anchor around my ankles and drop me into the Caustic Sea. Maybe the Cyberdemon chews me like jerky. Hell, Doom will probably just keep me in its soul and play a game of pinball with mine." He described, placing a foot on the former Demon's chest when he reached him. "You've always wanted to atone for your sins, Wretch. What better atonement could there be?" He questioned.

"That was before everything I've gained!" Wretch argued, fear gripping his voice. "I have friends now! I have a life! Please, don't-"

BAM

"So do I!" Doomguy roared, having struck him with the Soul Cube. "I lost everything! EVERYTHING! Doom took my home, it took Daisy, and it took my sanity! I've FINALLY gotten it back, I'm NOT losing it again!" He vowed before striking him with the other cube.

For the next full minute, the space marine beat the shit out of the former Demon's helmet with both cubes. Dents were made, but the helmet stayed strong. As for the cubes, their durability was meant to be as close to indestructible as possible. This beatdown would take a while.

Realizing how long this would be, Doomguy positioned himself to sit on top of the Wretch's chest. Then, like a gorilla slamming both of its fists on its opponent, he struck him with each cube simultaneously.

BAM

FWOOM

Freefall. Both men were plummeting through a familiar sky. Its color was brown, and the clouds looked more like massive plumes of smoke.

"IT WORKED!" A collective of voices, all speaking harmoniously, cried out from the soul cube.

"WHERE ARE WE?" Wretch asked, needing to use a higher volume due to the rushing wind currents. Both he and Doomguy were calm since they expected something like this. Plus, looking beneath them, there were no imminently approaching landmasses.

"WE HAD TO CHOOSE FROM MEMORY. A BATTLEFIELD FROM LONG AGO." The Maykrs answered.

"UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BATTLEFIELD MIGHT NOT BE HERE! EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS CHANGING IN THIS DAMNABLE REALM!" Wretch informed them.

"NOT THIS ONE! BEFORE DOOM'S GROWTH! WHEN IT ALL BEGAN!" The Maykrs told him.

Oh, right. The former Demon legitimately forgot that there WAS a bottom to Doom. With so many realities conquered and so many things consumed, it was difficult to recall a time when there was just a flat, barren waste. He searched through his memories of the War for Urdak. Recollections of fierce clashes against advanced Maykr combat machines and endless Demonic legions filled his mind.

"PREPARE FOR A ROUGH LANDING, THEN!" Wretch advised, mainly speaking to his companion.

"WHAT ABOUT YOU?" The Maykrs inquired, voicing that concern before the space marine could.

"...LET ME TEST SOMETHING!" Wretch requested.

A moment later, the former Demon was colored green.

"AH-HA! DOOM ONLY PREVENTED THEM FROM BEING USED! IT COULDN'T REMOVE THEM FROM OUR SUITS!" Wretch discovered with unbridled excitement.

Whelp. That made this a LOT simpler. Doomguy followed his companion's example right after. Then, both men oriented themselves into positions that would make them fall faster. The descent still lasted a bit, but just as they worried that they might've used their powers too soon...

BOOM

Luckily, the explosion from the impact prevented either man from being buried up to their ankles. As each one got to his feet and dusted himself off, Invincibility ended.

"Alright. The first thing we need to do is contact the others again. Even if Vega doesn't have this location recorded, he should still be able to connect to our suits." Wretch said.

"That won't be needed. Samuel's Tether System can pull us out immediately. I'd open a portal with my suit, but it's impossible without my helmet or PDA. I can't input any coordinates or determine a destination." Doomguy replied.

"Do you need us to do more?" The Maykrs asked.

"No, you've done plenty. Please rest easy. You've done more than we could've wanted." Wretch answered.

"Nonsense. If we can help more before all of us are rescued, then we are going to." The Maykrs asserted. They appreciated his compassion, but they refused to be dormant while these two did everything.

"...Fine," Wretch conceded. He wanted them to relax after all that they had endured, but that would wait until later. "I'll still contact the others, though. The access to our suits powers means I can conjure the Arcane." He insisted, taking the Conjuration Cube before the debate could go on.

"Is he always like this?" The Maykrs questioned.

"Yup," Doomguy confirmed.

The space marine and the Maykrs waited for their companion to return to them. Like with the others, the former Demon was consciously absent from himself while connected to the Conjuration Cube back in Hell. After a few minutes, the connection ended.

"...There's a complication," Wretch said when got back. "Hold your questions. Samuel will speak momentarily." He told them. A second later, the Conjuration Cube came to life.

"We can't waste time with a full assessment. Doom will be hunting you, so listen carefully." Samuel began, receiving nods from both men. "There is a massive disturbance in your area. However, it's complicated. The obstruction isn't one type of energy or power. It's an amalgamation of everything within that zone. Vega's working to determine the full scope, but it's not likely you'll be able to escape, even if you use Haste and start running. You need to locate the source, which we've already pinpointed. I'm sending the information to Wretch's helmet so he can lead the way." He informed them.

"What about teleportation?" Doomguy inquired.

"The anomaly is interfering with that as well. Our method utilizes instantaneous discharges of Argent. Yet, whatever is happening at your location, it matches the speed at which the Argent appears and adds it to the rest. The best description I can offer is an absorption field. Anything that is not corporeal is captured the moment it manifests." Samuel explained.

"It can't be a countermeasure to our teleportation; we JUST invented it." Wretch reasoned.

"Precisely. So, it's another of Doom's secret schemes. Find it, destroy it, and then we can get you out." Samuel instructed.

With that, the plan was set. The former Demon received a holographic map of the area on his HUD. As for the Conjuration Cube, it was commanded by someone new.

"WILLIAM J BLAZKOWICZ!"

...

"Daisy?" Doomguy responded. He needed a moment to make sure he recognized the voice.

"WHO ELSE?!" Daisy questioned. If she could be seen, the men would notice how her fur was spikier than a sea urchin. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WENT INTO DOOM! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" She (lovingly) yelled.

"Look, Daisy, you can kick my ass when I get home, but for now-"

"I INTEND TO!" Daisy shouted, cutting him off. "But, so long as you're in Doom, I'm going to guide you. I've seen the map that the robot guy made. I'm familiar with where you are." She revealed.

"...Seriously?" Doomguy asked, riling her up again.

"RABBITS RUN EVERYWHERE!" Daisy answered. "But stop distracting me, alright?! Keep yer yappers closed and let me point you in the right direction!" She ordered.

"...Uh...sure..." Doomguy accepted, which was supported by a nod from the Wretch.

"Good!" Daisy exclaimed, finally calming down. "You two are in the scrap fields. It's where Doom dumps all of its junk and production refuse from the factories. I've never seen them build anything there, but I know there's an entrance to the underground nearby. Face a rightward direction, and keep moving until you see a massive mechanical thingy." She instructed.

"Thingy?" Doomguy repeated, which only annoyed her.

"Will, I swear I'm going to bop you into the Heavens if you don't get yer ass in gear!" Daisy (affectionately) threatened him. "You'll know the thingy when you see it! The only way you wouldn't is if you were blind!" She promised.

Knowing it was best to end the conversation there, the men set out to find the thingy. The Wretch carried the Maykrs in his hands while the Conjuration Cube stayed close to the space marine.

"...So...you're Daisy..." Wretch said. The men were moving at a swift pace, but there was still time for some chatter.

"And you're the one responsible for saving Will," Daisy replied.

"I only bettered his chances. The Slayer is still responsible for-"

"Nope. Nu-uh." Daisy rejected that. "I've had a lifetime's worth of patience CONSUMED by a man who REFUSES to be Prideful. If you act like that around me, I'll bop you, too." She warned.

"Er, understood, Miss. Apologies." Wretch said. Who knew a rabbit could be so fearsome?

After a couple of minutes, the men reached the thingy. Upon seeing it, neither one blamed Daisy for not knowing what it was. It was an object so large that it went beyond their view. It was also vertical, but that didn't seem intentional...or was it?

"Wretch, ideas?" Doomguy inquired as they got closer, wanting to know his opinion.

"It's a structure...no...it's...a vessel." Wretch estimated, studying it intensely. "Yet...it has the shape...of a spear. Why would a vehicle-"

BOOM

The Conjuration Cube exploded. A powerful beam of red energy caused it. Tracing it back to its origin revealed a Hell Razer that was positioned like a sniper high up on the vessel. However, it wasn't the only one.

Across the vessel's body, countless red lights appeared. Daisy wouldn't have purposefully led the men into a trap, which meant that the protection it possessed was new. The Hell Razers couldn't just be a coincidental encounter. Of course, the men couldn't think about that right now. Each of them saw the massive opening into the underground, and they needed to hurry.

BOOM

It was like a fucking light show. Doomguy and the Wretch weaved through a downpour of deadly high-powered blasts. Their armors were burned and received some damage, but they blitzed through the barrage and reached their goal. What came next was truly a leap of faith.

The duo plummeted into darkness. The only illumination came from the vessel, which was MUCH bigger than either one could've guessed. When would it end? It couldn't go on forever.

...

THUD

The men's velocity was the same as before, so there wasn't a massive explosion. That allowed them to get their bearings quicker, which in turn revealed-

"...What...is this?..." Wretch whispered, baffled by the sight before them.

The end of the vessel. There were so many cables attached to it. Each one was the size of a subway tunnel, maybe even bigger. From the looks of it, energy was being transferred from the vessel to somewhere else.

"...Wretch..." Doomguy whispered, getting his attention. "Is this it? The source?" He asked.

"...No..." Wretch answered, shocked by what he was seeing on his HUD. "However, I think we should assume this has to do with it. The anomaly is much deeper down." He informed him.

Suddenly, there was a screech. Was it an Imp? Another Demon? Something new? It didn't matter. The space marine followed the former Demon when he took off running.

Both men activated Haste. When it neared its end, they'd use another charge. Three uses of that power would be enough to get them halfway across a large country if they were moving in a straight line. Yet, even with such a boost, their goal remained so far. What was this thing?! Why was it so deep within Doom?!

Again, it didn't matter. By the time Haste had run out, the men were far enough from any pursuers that they didn't need to worry about a fight. They still ran, obviously. They just didn't need to be-

"ENOUGH."

That voice came from all directions, bringing the men to a halt. The ground, walls, and ceiling of the corridor they were in trembled due to its power and volume. Simply put, Doom was PISSED.

"You thought it that easy?" The voice questioned, slowly increasing the intensity of the shaking. "Clever you are, but not enough. You stumbled upon a nest and have disturbed its inhabitants. Regardless of who oversees them here, all come back to me. They are my senses." It told them.

"Go ahead, then!" Wretch challenged. Both he and Doomguy were ready to fight. "We're not trapped within you anymore! Either face us, send your Demons, or attempt to crush us in this tunnel! We're prepared for whatever you do!" He exclaimed.

"So you claim," The voice started. "Yet, one of you has already fallen to something that has not been seen before. I wonder, will Betruger's beast prove even more useful than it already has?" It wondered.

Flynn's killer, it had to be! Both men pressed their backs to one another. They readied themselves for whatever was coming!

...

Half mechanical, half organic. That was the kind of sound that exploded throughout the corridor. A few seconds later, both men heard something moving, but it couldn't be seen!

THUD

Each man activated their second charge of Invincibility. Two things collided with them. Following that collision, the mysterious entities revealed themselves. Ghastly cybernetic horrors of a daunting size.

"Subjects Identified: Slayer and Wretch." The beasts spoke in unison before moving themselves away from their targets. "Threat Assessment: Weakened, but dangerous. Protocol: Attrition." They stated.

Monsters that knew when to back off, huh? Too bad! Doomguy and the Wretch went after their attackers, activating charges of Berserk. Sadly, the jets that carried these terrors were able to outpace the men. These clever bastards didn't attempt any attacks until Invincibility wore off.

Immediately, two sets of twin guns fired armor-piercing rounds. After a few broke through their armor, causing notable injuries, the men were forced to use their last charge of Invincibility.

"SLAYER!" Wretch called. "TO ME! HURRY!" He beckoned.

Doomguy returned to his companion's side. For as long as Invincibility would last, he focused on his Arcane abilities. The top priority was making multiple barriers. Buffs and offensive spells could come after!

When Invincibility ended, the Demons resumed their assault. An Arcane shield stopped their bullets. In the seconds that followed, a volley of missiles was launched, and fireball-like projectiles were sent. Like the bullets, they were stopped.

In reaction, the beasts charged at the duo. When they collided with the invisible protections, they now knew how where the edge was. With that information obtained, the monsters began attacking the shields with dual-bladed chainsaws. No...surely...not...

...

"They're powered by Arcane energy..." Wretch muttered when he noticed the barriers destabilizing. To prevent their collapse, he needed to repair them.

This was the fight now. Then again, could it even be called that? Sure, the Demons were in striking distance now, but Doomguy assumed they'd retreat the moment he activated Berserk again. His companion couldn't contribute since he needed to focus on defense.

"What can we do?!" The Maykrs inquired, desperate to help. The Wretch was holding them in one hand while the other focused his power on the shields.

"...Nothing..." Wretch whispered, surprising them and his companion. "Betruger designed these creatures. They're clearly meant to counter whatever we can deploy. What's worse is that we aren't at our best. Then there's our surroundings, which only aid our foes. This is the worst-case scenario." He told them.

"Wretch! Come on!" Doomguy growled, anger rising, but not at him. "We're so close to the end! This corridor's only made of stone, right? I can keep these bastards at bay while you do something to it! Break the floor and have us fall through!" He suggested.

"..." Wretch contemplated that for a moment. "...You're right, Slayer. Quickly, take the Maykrs. I need both of my hands for this." He requested.

The space marine swiftly obliged. Once the Soul Cube was taken, the former Demon used his freed hand to manipulate the ground. A few seconds later...

CRACK

The ground beneath both men crumbled. The Wretch, using the information on his HUD, ensured there was something beneath them before doing that. The way down consisted of many tunnels. So, this action needed repeating.

CRACK

Eventually, the men made it. Through the bottom of the final corridor, they fell into a massive chamber. Yet, what awaited below wasn't a simple machine or a Demonic organic structure. Instead, the anomaly was revealed to be a corpse—one that neither man thought they'd see again.

THUD

The men landed on the chest. However, it was so large that it could be mistaken for an island. The corpse was bigger than it was in the past, meaning this wasn't the same remains. This was a NEW body.

No reactions or commentary could be given to this discovery. The Demons from before had given chase and were already approaching. Like before, the Wretch erected several barriers. If their adversaries were limited to these two, then maybe there could've been a chance.

The unfathomably large body that the men stood on wasn't the only thing in this cavern. Every species of Demon was here. Each one was engaged in an assigned task before the men's arrival. But once they landed, it was like ringing the dinner bell.

Imps scurried up the colossal form. Hell Knights and Barons leaped to overcome the distance. Revenants, Cacodemons, and Pain Elementals flew toward their targets. Summoners and Archviles teleported themselves before doing the same with the Demons who couldn't make the trip, such as Mancubi and Pinkies. Arachnotrons took positions along the cavern walls and ceiling, aiming their guns. Even species that hadn't been encountered yet, such as those from Flynn's experience or new types created by Betruger and the Mother, came forward. In a matter of minutes, the men were surrounded by the largest army they'd ever faced.

"...Shall we fight, Slayer?..." Wretch asked, tone heavy with despair.

"It's better than waiting, Wretch." Doomguy answered.

Together, the men activated another charge of Berserk. Then, the barriers were released. For as long as they could, the duo fought with everything they had. But in the end, only the Demons remained.