AN: I didn't expect so many people to enjoy this story, since I've been writing it more as a form of stress relief. I won't promise it'll stay interesting, since I am making all of this up as I go along, but I'll at least try to keep it enjoyable.

I take a few minutes to recuperate from my flight, restoration magic suffusing my body before I recover enough Pyro energy to use that instead. The warmth spreads through me, invigorating every nerve. I know my Pyro healing abilities have improved, but an Adept-level restoration mage would still have an edge over my Pyro magic when it comes to healing wounds. For now, though, Pyro is the better healing option. It requires the intent to heal more than understanding what I'm actually healing, although I'm pretty sure I could improve both types of healing simply by studying up on biology. For now though, I feel revitalized.

Standing, I survey the next room on my path. It's enormous, the high ceiling cluttered with scrap metal bolted haphazardly to the walls, forming footholds and platforms that could help scale the sheer concrete. Fresh tunnels line the walls and ceiling, and I pause, scanning for signs of my intended route.

… I forgot which way to go from here.

A wave of frustration washes over me, but before I can dwell on it I'm distracted by the feeling of my soul reaching out to the Grimoire.

{+100 points! Rolling…

Control - Parselmouth - Harry Potter (200 points)

Roll Success. Current stockpile: 300 Points.

Purchase Parselmouth?}

Parselmouth

You have the rare gift of Parselmouth. As a Parseltongue you can talk to and control snakes. Slytherin house and Dark Wizards will likely show you more respect.

Wow… This perk is worthless.

I shake my head and reject the perk, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment. I suppose my lucky roll streak is finally coming to an end.

I step further into the cavernous room, hoping to see something that jogs my memory about which tunnel to take. But just as I'm about to turn down one of the darker paths, my friend's voice halts me.

"Hey, can we talk?" She asks. Her voice sounds a bit more serious than usual.

"Sure. What's up?" I slow my walking pace, my gaze landing on my friend as she hovers next to me.

"Back there… What you did was really dangerous, especially for someone who isn't a Guardian. I know you want to be a part of the action, but you don't have to do any of this. We can always wait here for reinforcements and let a fireteam handle these invaders." She says.

I tsk. "You don't get it. I'm not just doing this for the thrill. I want the power to stand up to the threats of this universe, and the only way to get it is by taking risks. I can't sit back and let others fight my battles for me or I'll never grow enough to matter."

She blocks my way, floating close to my face. "But at what cost? You could get killed. I don't want to see you put yourself in danger you don't need to be in. We can always leave, hide in the city for the rest of your life practicing your magic. You'll be safe."

I hesitate, and she notices. "Mav… what aren't you telling me?"

… If I'm really going to keep dragging her around with me, she deserves to know. "I've seen the future. The architect of the Collapse is coming back to finish what he started." I quietly mutter.

She stills, her eye wide in a mix of fear and disbelief. I think back to Ikora's words from the game, plagiarizing her in an effort to impress the magnitude of danger the universe is in. "I'm not a Guardian. But no place in the universe will be safe if that thing gains access to the Traveler. With the power of the Darkness and the Light it would be able to reshape reality into a perfect stillness, never changing, never dying. Can you imagine that? Your greatest triumph, or even your most profound regret, immortalized as part of a universe where nothing exists except what that thing permits."

I shake my head, firming my resolve. "No. I need power. Power enough to stand face to face with that bastard on an even footing and tell him to fuck off. But to do that, I need to grow. And to grow… I need to fight."

She hovers in place, almost looking lost as she processes my words. After a long moment, she finally speaks. "Alright. I believe you. Weirder things have happened... But we're going to talk about this later." She turns away, taking a simulated breath as if gathering her thoughts. "If any of those Fallen hit you, I'm not sure you would have survived. You can't keep your barriers up all the time. So…"

Her eye glows, and a set of flash forged Warlock armor appears in front of me. The sleek, elegant fabric feels tough but still flexible enough for me to move in. Aesthetically it's not the prettiest, being identical to the Warlock armor used in most promotional material for Destiny 2.

But what's really important is what giving me the armor represents. This armor took years to gather the materials for, armor that was meant for her future Guardian.

For once I'm speechless. Sure, I assumed I might be able to partner up with her using the Grimoire at some point, but…

"... Don't take this the wrong way. You said it yourself; You're not a Guardian, but letting you walk around without any form of protection other than your magic barriers is stupid." She huffs, her voice laced with a mix of concern and irritation. If she were a person, I can imagine her crossing her arms and turning her head away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Gently, I take the armor set into my hands, feeling the cool fabric against my skin. The weight of it is reassuring, a promise of protection and companionship. It may not be standard, but she's all but telling me that she's with me no matter what.

I undress down to my underwear before slipping on the robes. The fabric settles against my skin, and I can feel a subtle warmth as it conforms to my body. It's snug, yet it doesn't restrict my movements. The sleeves fall just past my elbows, giving me full range of motion. I can already tell it'll provide some much-needed protection without weighing me down.

Next, I move to the gauntlets. They fit like a second skin, hardening slightly as I slide my arms inside. I flex my fingers, testing their dexterity. The sensation is comforting: this armor feels like an extension of myself. With each piece I wear, I feel more empowered, more ready for what lies ahead. The effect is entirely psychological, but confidence can be a power all its own.

I pick up the leg armor, and pull it up to my waist. They fit perfectly, hugging my legs without constricting them. As I buckle them in place, I can't help but grin. I may be a Wizard, but once upon a time I was a Warlock main.

Finally, I reach for the helmet. It glimmers, reflecting the dim light of the room, and I can feel its significance. This isn't just armor; it's a promise. I lift it to my head, feeling a rush of anticipation. As I secure it in place, the screen flashes, enveloping my vision as the built-in HUD flares to life.

Active radar flickers in the corner of my vision, a health bar with an empty section for Light-generated shielding, and basic ammo counting functionality materializes. I take a moment to absorb the information, a wave of exhilaration surging through me.

I turn to my friend, my voice coming out over the speakers built into the helmet. "I've thought up a name for you, if you're okay with it."

Her shell spins around her in what I've learned over our time together is an excited tic. "Well, as long as it's not stupid, I won't say no." Despite her words, she's eager to hear my suggestion.

"I'm not quite a Guardian, so it makes sense that my partner is not quite a Ghost. So… how does Spectre sound?"

"... Still with the jokes, huh? I don't hate the name. In fact, it's actually quite cool if I ignore all the jokes you used to make. Alright then." She hovers up in front of me. "I suppose it's only proper to introduce myself. My name is Spectre, pleasure to meet you." She dips a bit at the end, sort of like a bow.

I grin under my helmet, throwing my backpack back over my shoulders. "Nice to meet you, Spectre."

My soul shudders once again, reaching out for another perk.

{+100 points! Rolling…

Destruction - Warrior - Legends of Runeterra (free)

Roll Success. Current stockpile: 400 Points.

Purchase Warrior?}

Warrior

Everyone must have a way to defend themselves. With this perk, you're a warrior of exceptional skill, able to fight overwhelming numbers and mighty beasts with equal ease. Comes with peak human body and an increased capacity of improving your physical abilities, as well as competence in all weapons and reducing the weight of any armor you wear.

Actual combat skills? For free? Seems my lucky streak isn't over after all.

Yoink.

My armor tightens around me, but it's a comforting embrace, not a constriction. I roll my shoulders and feel the strength flowing through my muscles, every movement now smooth and instinctual. No more relying solely on thought acceleration. I'm done being that awkward fighter who fumbles through each battle thanks to a single crutch.

I remember the Fallen I've dispatched so far. Thought acceleration carried me, allowing me to outpace the reactions and attacks of mere pirates, but I know now how jerky my movements were compared to someone with real training. If I had fought anyone with real skill, the outcome would have been poor for me.

As I stride forward to search the tunnels for the way forward, my thoughts shift to Spectre, and how quickly she's latched onto me.

Before I came to this world, I'd often thought about the bond between Ghosts and their Guardians. How much of it is their inbuilt purpose, and how much is just basic loneliness pushing them to befriend the first person they can actually be around for more than a few days?

The long search, the isolation; perhaps that drives them to latch onto their Guardians more quickly once they're rezzed. I've been fortunate; Spectre seems to have found comfort in my company despite me not being her Guardian.

What does it say about me that I latched onto her just as easily? Was I really that starved for friendship?

Ada-1 POV:

Ada-1 stands in her workshop, surrounded by the familiar hum of machinery and the sharp tang of metal. The dim lights overhead cast long shadows, but her eyes are focused on the video feed emerging from the Botza District, courtesy of the Fireteam she'd sent to repel the invading Fallen. One Ghost might not be capable of piercing the jamming field the Fallen set up, but six working together proved more than enough.

"How times change." She mutters, her eyes fixed on the video feed streaming from a Fireteam in the Botza District. She studies their movements, the confidence in their strides, the gleam of their Light as they annihilate every enemy they stumble across.

Once, she vowed never to arm anyone who wielded the Light after the tragic loss of her fellow Black Armory members to the Warlord's of old. And yet here she is, providing weapons and armor to Lightbearers in return for their aid. It's a calculated risk; safeguard the last Black Armory vault she has access to and let the Lightbearers have a small amount of the weapons as rewards, or risk losing everything to Siviks' little band of pirates. That she must arm the same kind of people who killed Henriette-

She shakes her thoughts from their downward spiral, instead focusing on the Guardians she's hired.

Sora has taken command, her voice slicing through the chaos with earned authority. No one dares to question her; It's common knowledge that she has led several high profile raid operations before. Ada watches closely as Sora studies the holomap, issuing precise instructions for depositing Radiant Batteries to deactivate the shields barring access to the path ahead.

Nearby, Shayura, Aisha, and Reed-7 execute the Hunter's orders seamlessly. Their teamwork is a testament to the decades they've fought side by side. Ada watches as they test a Berserker's phasic shield, darting back from the stunning bubble it generates. After a few tense repetitions, and a near death experience on Reed's part, they discover the trick: attacking from both sides simultaneously. The Berserker's shield is overwhelmed, and with a throwing motion Shayura unleashes a Nova Bomb, atomizing the alien. Although this is the first raid for the three of them, Ada has faith in their abilities; she has watched them defend the forges countless times in exchange for portions of her crafted gear.

On another screen, Druis and Joxer keep the streets clear of the rising tide of Fallen. Ada catches snippets of their banter as she glances over. Druis is laughing, the Warlock firing her Kindled Orchid from the back of Joxer's sparrow, while Joxer mutters obscenities as he maneuvers the vehicle to dodge incoming fire, the Titan's focus unwavering despite the chaos. The juxtaposition of Druis's carefree spirit against Joxer's serious demeanor is almost comical.

Right about then the last battery is deposited in the correct location, the shield dropping in response. Joxer deftly steers his sparrow toward the now-accessible tunnel while Sora abandons the holomap, moving to follow the others who have already entered. They discover a stockpile of Armory gear resting just beyond the entrance, their pace slowed as they begin to divvy it up.

Ada can't help but snort. If there's one thing she can trust, it's the insatiable greed of Lightbearers.

The moment the fireteam managed to breach the tunnel, the jamming signal that had been obstructing communications in the district suddenly ceased. A new holo screen flashes a warning: Vault Ebisu has been breached.

'No, really?' Ada sarcastically thinks to herself. Video feeds from around the vault begin transmitting, revealing swathes of Fallen swarming the area, many already inside the vault itself… Including Siviks.

Good. Siviks hasn't escaped with anything quite yet.

But then, something catches her eye. On one of the cameras overlooking the facilities surrounding the vault, a Guardian is inspecting a kitbashed console locking access to the ruins above the vault. From his attire, Ada can tell he's not one of the six she sent. Her brow furrows in confusion.

Could this Guardian be the one who sent out the distress signal? She recalls the one who brought the invasion to her attention, well before the automated systems would have flagged the absence of telemetry data from the vault. Maybe he was dressing down before, in an attempt to fit in with the regular populace?

"If so, he dressed a little too far down." Ada mutters to herself.

Mavriel POV:

Oh, Another roll? Bumbling through the sewers couldn't have been that interesting.

{+100 points! Rolling…

Destruction - Moonlight Greatsword - Dark Souls: Covenants (200 points)

Roll Success. Current stockpile: 500 Points.

Purchase Moonlight Greatsword?}

Moonlight Greatsword

This sword, one of the rare dragon weapons, came from the tail of Seath the Scaleless, the pale white dragon who betrayed his own. It shines with an arcane light, dazzling many who gaze upon it. As it is imbued with Seath's own magic, it is capable of unleashing a devastating beam of arcane moonlight when swung, allowing you to hit far off enemies with ease.

On the one hand, I don't really feel like a sword kinda guy. Sure, it's probably one of the most appropriate swords for a Wizard to wield, but I really want to play into a classical staff and spell aesthetic.

On the other hand… I don't really have a plan for how to handle Insurrection Prime once he emerges from the ground. I know I can manage the first phase of the fight by noselling some of the mechanics with my magic. I'm confident in my combat skills, and my barriers should let me bypass some of the shock walls and incoming fire from the Fallen.

But… I'm lacking in heavy firepower. Something to truly pierce through Insurrection Prime's heavy plating; assuming I even get that far.

If I pass this roll up, I'll have 600 points by my next roll, and maybe then I'll land something even better. And yet... something in me stirs. A burning desire.

… Fuck it. If I'm going to die, I want a cool magic sword before I keel over.

Yoink.

With the confirmation of my purchase, a strange sensation flits through my mind. The sword doesn't materialize right away. Instead, I feel its presence waiting in the back of my consciousness, dormant, but ready to be summoned when I need it. Instinctively, I know I won't be able to return it to this stasis once I've pulled it out.

So rolled items can be held in stasis until I summon them for the first time? Good, that means any buildings I roll won't need to be placed wherever I happen to be at the time I acquire them.

Still, I decide it's better to wait until I'm out of this confined space to summon the thing. Something tells me I'll need the room.

Spectre speaks up in my helmet, pulling me from my thoughts. "Incoming Comms from someone called Ada-1. Citynet lists her as the current head of the Black Armory."

"Patch her through." I reply.

Ada's voice comes through, a slight amount of tension in her voice. "Guardian, I appreciate the warning you sent earlier, but we don't have much time to waste. A Fallen leader by the name of Siviks is here, attempting to steal technology from Vault Ebisu. A fireteam of six is en route, but Siviks won't wait around. We can't let him escape with what he's after."

"Shit. Any ideas?" I ask. If it's possible to kill Siviks here and now, that would be ideal.

Ada pauses for a moment, then speaks with measured calm. "If the raid team appears too early, Siviks may flee before you can corner him. But if one lone Guardian made enough of a scene, it might draw him out. Can you distract them long enough for reinforcements to arrive?"

A smile creeps across my face. "Making a scene? Yeah, I think I can handle that."

"Another thing; There's a machine, a large one, outfitted with Black Armory weapons." Ada continues. "They haven't directly attached any phase radiance technology yet, so it'll be vulnerable for a limited time. You'll need to destroy the rig around the machine before they finish attaching the stolen technology to it."

"Got it." I say. "Oh, by the way... I'm a Wizard, not a Guardian." I cut the comms before she could respond.

Without hesitation, I pull out my hand cannon and fire two quick shots at the consoles in front of me. Sparks fly, and the machinery crackles, shutting down in a cascade of failures. This time, I don't even need to speed up my thoughts. It's all muscle memory now.

I step out and survey the area the ruins spread out before me. Fallen forces are scattered across the landscape, scrambling to erect makeshift defenses. Phase shields flicker to life in hastily constructed formations, but they're not directly attached to Insurrection Prime's rig. Instead, they hover alongside the hulking machine, bolted onto shield drones hovering erratically above the battlefield.

Hundreds of Fallen eyes lock onto me as I step into view. The hum of their weapons and the static crackle of their shields fill the night with a tense, electric atmosphere. Whether they hesitate due to the audacity of me coming alone, or perhaps think that my confidence might be warranted I can't tell.

I take a deep breath.

Then, above me, the clouds part.

A beam of pale white light descends from the heavens, cutting through the darkness. It doesn't come from the Traveler. No, this light belongs to the moon, that distant, luminous orb in the night sky. The beam is ethereal, shimmering as it touches the battlefield, illuminating the ruins in a ghostly glow.

It's time.

I raise my hand, fingers reaching upward into the light. I feel it, cool and solid, the hilt of a weapon materializing in my grasp. Slowly, deliberately, I pull the Moonlight Greatsword from the celestial beam.

The blade is radiant, glowing with a brilliant arcane energy. It shimmers with a faint blue hue, as if the very essence of the moon has been captured and forged into this weapon. Its weight feels natural, familiar, like it was meant to be in my hand all along.

I raise the sword with both hands, its glow intensifying as I brandish it toward the army of Fallen. The blade hums with raw power, casting long shadows across the battlefield.

"Come at me then!" I shout, my voice echoing through the ruins. As I speak, a crimson barrier forms around my armored body. "I'll take you all on!"

CHAPTER 4 END

AN: I didn't feel like making up 5 more Guardians to take part in the raid, so I decided to use a few that were mentioned in lore books and weapon descriptions. Shayura, Aisha, Reed-7, Joxer, and Druis. I tried to keep it to two of each Guardian class in the raid, as that seemed like it would be standard practice in-universe. I glossed over a lot of the mechanics for the first encounter they were doing, as Ada didn't really care in her POV but they did have to carry batteries to recharge the map table and juggle the ionized debuff.

I'm starting to think that most of the rolls in the Grimoire are actually useful, and my pre-story rolling was just really bad luck on my part, which tracks actually. Still annoying that Mav's RNG is better than mine though.