Waiting. There was nothing else that anyone could do. After the final Conjuration Cube was destroyed, all contact was lost. Vega couldn't connect to Doomguy or the Wretch's suits anymore due to their closer proximity to the anomaly. So, in what was a true Purgatory, everyone had to be patient.
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"Something's happening," Vega announced, getting everyone's attention. "It's in Lust. A rift is forming." He informed them.
Without needing to be told to do so, the AI opened a massive portal for everyone to rush through. For those that weren't present, such as the Carmines, Adam, and Lute, they'd be found by the Exorcists and brought to Lust as well. When all were gathered near the outpost in Lust, they stared at the rift in silence. Sadly, there wasn't enough time given for hopeful expectations to emerge.
From the other side of the rift, the meat golem from earlier came forward. The creature had a multitude of arms, so it was able to carry many things. In one of its arms, there was a round object comprised of souls. In one of its hands, a Soul Cube was held. Then, in another hand, a bloodied sack was dragged across the ground.
"Our business is done." A deep and powerful voice spoke from the rift. Only Khan recognized it. "As promised, the rewards offered have been delivered." It said, referring to the creature and all that it carried.
Once everything was through the rift, it disappeared. There were no sounds or reactions, at least not right away. The truth of this outcome would finally hit minutes later. When it did, an overwhelming dread was inflicted on every soul present. In this instance, Doom had won.
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Roaring. Growling. Snarling. Screeching. Howling. Hollering. So many noises, but they were connected by one thing. All of this uproar was cheering. These were the excited vocalizations of an audience that craved its entertainment.
Doomguy was fighting in the arena again. The man had been stripped of everything. As bare as could be, he was forced to fight whatever the audience desired. Imps, Hell Knights, Pinkies, Mancubi, Barons, etc. If there were to be weapons and armor provided, they were being held for now. The audience of Demons wanted to see the almighty Slayer rely only on himself. How long would he last when truly alone and nothing to aid him?
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Flynn couldn't move. He was surrounded by darkness, but he knew he wasn't dead anymore. His body lay atop something metallic and freezing. The air was also cold, causing his body to tremble from the low temperature.
The man was in a morgue. If not that, then something meant to replicate it. The compartments in which the dead were kept served as his prison. How long would the soldier remain here? Well, that depended on the warden, didn't it? This was undoubtedly Betruger's idea, as would be whatever came next. Experiments? Tests? Basic torture? Knowing that bastard, it'd be all three and then some. Flynn could try to struggle or scream, but nothing would be gained from that. There was also the likelihood of such behavior giving his captor satisfaction and joy, which he didn't want. So, Flynn continued to shiver in silence and darkness, waiting for something to happen.
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The Wretch was paralyzed. Where was he? Unknown. What was happening to him? Depending on who you ask, punishment or penance.
The former Demon's soul was connected to every soul Doom possessed. Their pain, screams, emotions, thoughts, sensations—ALL of it—was felt. Additionally, their memories were forced into his mind. So, everything that has happened since each soul's arrival was experienced as well.
The Wretch could only lay on the ground with his eyes widened and his mouth agape. His body twitched and convulsed, which were the only reactions he could express. There'd be no pauses or breaks at any point. For as long as Doom wanted, this was his fate. An endless seizure of suffering.
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Betruger was humming to himself. He was examining the data his Doom Hunters collected from their encounters with the Marine, the Slayer, and the Wretch. The most valuable information gained was how resilient these initial models were. The Doom Hunter was able to withstand a point-blank hit from a BFG and remain operational. The most obvious step forward was to improve the durability, which was going to be much easier now.
The Marine's Maykr armor and all that it contained was in Batruger's possession. The Doom Hunter, by his instruction, was exceedingly careful in how it carved the man. All of the most important parts were intact, which was beyond wonderful.
Additionally, the suits worn by the Slayer and the Wretch were retrieved as well. There wasn't much difference between the Marine's armor and the Wretch's, but that was fine. Both suits were made with Maykr technology, meaning their components alone were a beneficial acquisition. However, the Slayer's armor, the Praetor, was one of the greatest treasures obtained.
There were SO many possibilities! Betruger was thinking of a few, but they were new ideas. His partner, the Mother, had already put something into motion. The project faced possible stagnation if the Slayer wasn't captured, but now that he was bound to the arena, there wouldn't be-
"Betrguer," The Mother's voice whispered into his ear. She could speak from anywhere in the realm, making communication incredibly easy. "We are gathered for a meeting. Could you join us?" She requested.
"Certainly. I've not started any work yet," Betruger agreed.
Without performing any action, even one as simple as snapping his fingers, Betruger created a portal. Upon walking through it, he entered a massive chamber in which the Mother and the Cyberdemon were waiting. The chamber's location was within Doom's primary citadel.
"Where is she?" Betruger asked, noticing the absence of someone who should be here.
"Do not worry, Betruger. She's on her way. She needs to ensure that her Sisters don't get suspicious." The Mother answered.
"Hmph, fair enough." Betruger acknowledged while moving his gaze to the Cyberdemon. "Forgive any offense this may cause, but I'm surprised that you're here. Did something special happen during the Slayer's trial? You, of all people, would want nothing more than to watch him struggle in the arena." He inquired.
"The Slayer can't escape. There will be plenty of entertainment." The Cyberdemon replied. His voice was barely more than a guttural growl, similar to a crocodile's or alligator's. But his peers could understand it just fine. "The Mother requested my presence. I believe she seeks my input." He told him.
"That I do," The Mother confirmed with a nod. "I wanted to hear from our master's greatest warrior about the Gladiator's performance. When confronted by the Slayer, did he satisfy your expectations?" She asked.
"Impressive, but rough. His shield's destruction was the greatest blunder of the fight. Yet, the Gladiator was able to persist and even pinned the Slayer. If he was more wary of his opponent's strength and expertise, perhaps the victory would've been his." The Cyberdemon answered.
"How many more fights should the Gladiator participate in before his transformation?" Betruger inquired.
"Hard to say, but I would suggest pitting him against your Demons, Betruger. The Slayer should be fitted with weapons when they fight again. However, that will not happen for some time. The others want him vulnerable for now." The Cyberdemon responded.
FWOOM
A green-colored portal manifested. From within, an Avian-looking creature emerged.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Greed apologized as she stepped through. "Everyone's losing their minds right now because of what happened. It was hard for me to get away." She explained.
"We understand, don't worry." The Mother assured her as the portal closed.
"So! Where are we at? What's going on?" Greed inquired, ready to participate.
"Before we get you up to speed, there's something I'd like to know," Betruger admitted, facing her. "Although this could be the final time such performances are needed, I'd still like to hear how those who portrayed myself and the Mother did. From how the Marine sounded, he was surprised by our interactions." He requested, offering context.
"Wretch was the same. He anticipated ridicule and spite, which made him curious when I didn't behave that way." The Mother shared.
"Sorry about that..." Greed apologized with a sigh. "Envy played the Mother, while Gluttony handled Betruger, as she did when her Ring was used as a bomb. We told them to tone it down a little, but they still got carried away." She explained.
"In fairness, they're acting as we hoped they would. More so Envy than Gluttony, but still, it isn't something we didn't account for." Betruger remarked.
"Yeah, about that..." Greed began. "I've been meaning to ask this for a while, but we've been so busy that it never seemed appropriate. In light of today's success, could I be granted this moment?" She requested.
"Please, speak your mind." The Mother encouraged, making her smile.
"Thank you. I promise I'll be brief," Greed said before continuing. "I've not questioned any of your orders or plans because they've all made sense. Yet, the actions you had me commit in my Ring elude my understanding. Why did I need to target that Hellhound? Why did I transform Mammon if he was to be a sacrifice? And, most importantly, why have me act as Pride with the Hellhound, and then Gluttony with Mammon?" She asked.
"Before I answer, can you confirm one more thing?" Betruger requested, receiving a nod. "During both encounters, did you appear as we instructed you and your Sisters to?" He inquired.
"Yes, sir! We know we're not to reveal ourselves at any time unless we resemble Roo. We're also to make the lights flicker and affect any electrical devices nearby, much like what happened when the Marine was killed." Greed confirmed.
"Excellent, then all is as it should be," Betruger started, putting his hands behind his back. "Greed, to answer your question, I'm going to share with you a story from my reality. There was once a man by the name of Achilles. He was bathed in a river by his Mother, which made him invulnerable. However, his Mother had made a severe mistake. She soaked every part of her son in that water except for one spot, which would later be called the Achilles' Tendon. It earned this name since, as the story goes, Achilles was killed when that single weakness was exploited. Yet, you can hardly blame his Mother. It was something so small and seemingly inconsequential that it is reasonable for her not to have realized its importance. Even so, all it took was something that appeared insignificant to destroy an otherwise invulnerable man." He recited. "Do you comprehend the point?" He asked.
"I...think so..." Greed answered, rubbing the bottom of her beak. "My impersonations are meant to create and fuel distrust among my Sisters. I don't know how you'll do it, but this will lead to the majority's stance changing. Once that happens, we'll be able to better serve Doom." She guessed.
"Exactly. Well done, Greed." Betruger praised, making her smile. "For now, Envy will continue to be the perfect unwitting distraction. Her immediate fondness for our master directs all suspicion toward her instead of you." He said.
"Right. Just let Envy keep running her mouth whenever the chance arises," Greed replied. "Is there anything else you want me to do, sir?" She inquired.
"No. If anything, all of us are about to receive a well-deserved relaxation period. Our enemies will be reeling from this loss, allowing us to observe them and begin applying pressure throughout Hell." Betruger informed her.
"Should I be involved? I will surely make them uneasy." The Cyberdemon asked.
"Not right away. With the technology we've gained, I'm going to be working on some design improvements for you. What would you say to an arm that allows you to wield the same power as the BFG?" Betruger answered, followed by an offer. The immediate reaction was an overjoyed bellow.
"YES!" The Cyberdemon excitedly exclaimed, almost roaring as he did.
"Regarding improvements," The Mother interjected, getting the focus back on her. "Betruger, after this meeting, I'd like to share with you the documents Wretch provided." She requested.
"Documents? Did you have Wretch design something?" Greed questioned, fascinated by that.
"Indeed. Although his treachery was unpleasant, Wretch's intellect could not be ignored. What we gained from him was assistance with one of our projects. A joint effort between myself and Betruger." The Mother explained.
"Ooo! What is it?" Greed pressed, wanting to hear more.
"Patience, Greed. Some things are best kept until they're ready." The Mother responded.
"Aww, okay..." Greed sighed in acceptance. "Could you at least tell me about the other thing you were working on? What was it named..." She requested, struggling to recall the title.
"The Marauder. A new, unique entity much like myself or the Cyberdemon. Like us, it possesses a soul." The Mother said.
"Yeah! That's it!" Greed exclaimed with a snap of her fingers.
"From what the Cyberdemon tells us, there is still some work to be done. But we won't need to use the Slayer exclusively. Betruger's invention, the Doom Hunter, will also benefit its potential." The Mother informed her.
"Oh, yeah, those freaky things..." Greed remarked, making Betruger chuckle.
"It's good to know that even you find them unsettling." Betruger commented, pleased by that reaction. "Is there anything else we need to discuss? Or more that Greed needs to be told?" He inquired, speaking to everyone.
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"It would seem not," The Mother decided, getting nods from the rest. "As Betruger said, let us enjoy a bit of quiet time. Worry not about when we'll need you again, Greed. We'll be sure to reconvene before any moves are made." She stated.
"What about my Sisters? They might start to get a little restless, especially Envy." Greed asked.
"If so, just put forward the idea to contact our master directly. As always, he's aware of everything that transpires in these meetings. Any antsy souls among your kin will be pacified if he orders it." Betruger answered.
"Got it." Greed replied with a thumbs up.
Thus, the conference concluded. Each of the four opened portals to different locations. Although they would relax and enjoy themselves, they'd also remain vigilant and keep in contact with one another. There was still a war to win, and anything could happen before their victory was absolute.