Well, now Revenant truly is dead, for all intents and purposes. Gonna need to do that Skolas thing at some point, but I have not had time. This semester has been a busy one. And, with the next chapter being what it is, I will need to go on another little hiatus to work.
If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hate it, feel free to leave a review screaming into the endless abyss of madness that has consumed all extant life in this reality.
Chapter 36: Maggots and Monarchs
"Why this vessel?" - The worm of Savathûn
Luz winced as she nursed her shoulder, feeling dozens of little pangs in her tendons as she agitated the limb. Aurora shone her light onto the joint, and Luz's pain retreated, coaxing a sigh of relief from her lips. Beside her, Amity lounged in her seat, tucking her hands behind her head. Kicking her feet up on a small crate, she let out a content sigh.
"Another mission, another crisis averted," she said. "All in a day's work for Sol's newest and truest heroes."
Royal chuckled as he crouched before the two and sparked a fire to warm them. "She gets one victory, and it goes straight to her head." The flames crackled at his fingertips, and he shook his head. "You two did good down there."
"Agreed," Lilith said from her seat. "If only I could have been there myself." She had been recovering well, rapidly regaining her strength due to a combination of rest, soothing Solar Light, and healing magic from Amity. She could stand mostly unaided now, though she still needed her staff to walk. Most importantly, color had returned to her face, and there was a spark of energy in her eyes.
"Once you're in better spirits, I'm sure you'll be making the Hive rue the day they ever discovered the Isles," Royal said. Beside him, Lancer chirped and spun his shell.
"Hol up just got a message."
"From who?" Luz asked.
"Getting to that." He paused, reading the message intently before letting out a low whistle. "Break times over; Queen Mara demands an audience."
In an instant, the air of calm relaxation that had settled over the camp shattered. Royal nodded and rose from his crouching position while Luz stood up from her seat.
"She wants us to go all the way to the Reef?" Amity asked, not moving from her perch. "I'm sure whatever she has to say could've been sent in a message."
"She's currently with the relic," Lancer said, seemingly giving Amity a one-eyed wink. The Witch scoffed but stood up and stretched her back.
"It all was too good to last," she bemoaned as Lilith slowly pushed herself to her feet. "Back to the front it is."
With little delay, the four ventured into the relic. Apprehensive of such a Dark structure, Lilith required a little convincing. The four entered the chamber where Iris had forged her glaive, and they had uncovered the truth of the Hive's existence. Lancer signaled for them to continue moving; Queen Mara was waiting in a further room. Approaching the back wall, Royal placed his hands against it.
"Dead end," he muttered before turning to Luz. "You seeing something I don't?"
She stepped forward, placing her palm against the wall. Recognizing her presence, it responded in an instant. The obsidian folded away, clipping through itself in ways that violated Euclidian space. A dim hallway appeared before them, leading further into the mesa. After a shared glance with Amity, Luz set her hand ablaze and marched into the deep. Royal did the same and brought up the rear.
At the end of the hallway was a small internal cavern. Their walkway ended with a sharp drop leading down miles and miles into the depths of Mars. A small onyx table sat before them, housing a worm as large as Luz's torso. Its body slowly expanded and contracted as it took labored breaths. As Luz approached the pathetic creature, her head spiked with Dark energies.
"That… is Savathûn's worm," Lilith said, tightly gripping her Palisman. Royal shot her a raised eyebrow.
"You recognize this horrid creature?"
"We were unwilling roommates," Lilith replied dourly. "We've been introduced."
"Indeed," Queen Mara said from behind the four. They collectively spun around, facing the Awoken monarch as she stepped closer. Luz quickly checked the rest of the room, unable to find any additional side areas where she could have hidden. It was as though she had appeared from the stone itself.
"This is the very parasite that once plagued the Witch Queen herself," Queen Mara continued, striding forward with unmatched purpose. Every step conveyed authority and drive as her footsteps reverberated off the cavern walls.
"Queen Mara, it is good to see you," Luz said, bowing her head. Lilith raised her eyebrows in surprise before awkwardly trying to curtsey. Mara fixed the Witch with her own inquisitive gaze, prying apart Lilith with nothing but her glimmering retinas.
"It is best we not delay ourselves with pleasantries," she said. Royal hooked a hand under Lilith's arm and righted her as the Queen of the Reef directed her focus onto the worm. "This parasite knocks on death's door."
"And what use do we have for Savathûn's dying worm outside of stress relief?" Amity asked. Crossing her arms, she appraised the miserable creature once more. "I bet it would make a really funny noise if I punted it into this pit."
Lilith visibly perked up. "I second that."
Mara pointedly ignored them. "The parasite is an opportunity—to learn from Humanity's greatest failure."
"The Collapse," Royal said, his voice like a steel cable drawn too taut.
"But not ours alone," Mara said. "That day was as much a failure for the Wit—" Without warning, she sharply looked to the side. Her eyes wavered in their sockets for a moment as the others watched, confused.
"Is everything alright?" Lilith asked. Mara's gaze snapped back to her, appraising the Witch once more as though she had turned the page in some invisible book.
"I am fine," she said. "As I said, our Collapse was as much a failure for the Witness and its followers. Savathûn included."
"Savathûn was there?" Amity growled, gripping the plate on her biceps tightly enough to lightly deform the metal. "Was the Isles not enough for her?"
"On behalf of the Witness, no doubt," Luz said.
"Something prevented Humanities end that day," Mara continued. "Something known by Savathûn and her worm. And perhaps another in our company." For the third time, her gaze returned to Lilith. She shrank under the accusatory stare, shifting slightly to put Royal between herself and the Awoken Queen.
"My recollections are scattered and incomplete," she said. "Maybe I knew it once, but it has been torn from me."
"A shame," Mara said evenly. "That would make everything much easier. In that case, the worm is our only option; as you can see, it is greatly diminished. It requires a new host to survive, to divulge its secrets."
"You're not proposing…" Royal began uncertainly.
"I'll do it," Lilith said. "I will house the worm. We're already acquainted, so to speak."
"Not an option," Royal said. "It's a death sentence, especially as you are now."
"I have to help in whatever way I can," Lilith argued. "I am the only one who could do this."
"As noble a sentiment it may be, I believe I have another option," Mara said, holding up a hand. "It will be dangerous. But, for the sake of the Awoken people, it is worth the risk."
"Then how does this work?" Amity questioned. "Grab some knives and dice it up for you to eat? Seems a little counterintuitive to keeping the little shit alive."
"Nothing so garish," Mara said, approaching the worm. One of her hands extended, and a small, spherical device appeared in her hand. The device hissed as it was unsealed. The worm dissolved into magical energy that flowed into the container. Mara offered it to Luz, who gingerly accepted the device. "There is a location, deep within the swamps of the Throne World, that houses what we need to begin this symbiosis. A city, constructed in the image of the Pyramids."
"The Hidden have been sweeping the Throne World for as long as we've had access to it," Royal said. "If there was a city, they would've found it."
"I have my sources," Mara replied coolly. "And I have the coordinates. I task you with investigating and finding what we need."
"And we need what exactly?" Amity asked.
"I will fill you in en route," Mara said. She gestured to Lilith. "You will stay with me; I need to know as much of what you and Savathûn shared as you can recall."
Lilith didn't seem particularly thrilled to be sat on the bench again, and even less so to be stuck on her own with the Awoken Queen, but she accepted with a grim nod. The Guardians made their departure, returning to their jumpships and preparing for takeoff. Royal quickly checked his engines as Lilith stood nearby.
"I know you want to help," Royal began, running his hands along the exhaust, "but you're just going to have to get used to taking a backseat for now. You're still weakened from your time in Savathûn's clutches." Lilith was about to object, but Royal cut her off. "You couldn't even stand on your own until recently. I'm sorry, but you'll just have to accept running tactical for now." Reaching out, he gripped her shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. "Keep your chin up; I'm sure you'll be bashing Hive in no time."
"I'll hold you to that," Lilith said with a small smile. Royal gave a grin of his own before embarking on his ship and taking off. Together, the three soared into the Throne World once more. The chaos had only worsened since their rampage through the Apothecary. Waves of Scorn swept over the Hive battlements, only to be eradicated by the ferocious power of the Light.
The Guardians ignored to war below them, flying far into Scorn territory. The massive cathedrals of Savathûn's palace faded away as the muck and mire overtook the land beneath them. As they flew, the horde of countless Scorn covering the floor receded until nothing but nature remained.
"I never imagined this place could be so massive," Amity said. "How are we supposed to find a city out here?"
"We keep our eyes and optics open," Royal replied. "We're nearing the coordinates Mara provided; we'll find it."
They felt the city before they saw it. It was as though they had just passed through the veil between day and night. A deep chill bit into their flesh and metal as the temperature steadily plummeted. Luz glanced at the edges of her viewport as frost slowly webbed across the edges. She felt her Dark powers flare, awakening in response to something she couldn't see yet.
"You both felt that, right?" Amity asked.
"I don't like this," Royal muttered. "Too many unknowns. We're flying blind into enemy territory with nothing but Mara's word to go off of."
"Is my word not good enough?" The Queen asked, her voice like a dagger of ice against Royal's neck. "My word got you what you needed to finally slay the Witch Queen."
Royal grunted, neither acquiescing to nor denying her statement. The swamp below began to thin, trees growing more and more sparse. Constructs of onyx emerged from the muck, each radiating a deathly chill. Totems and boxy buildings sprouted into the air, all standing in neatly filed rows and draped in a thick fog.
As they approached the city, a feeling of intense dread overtook their bodies. A massive shape loomed behind the fog. As they flew closer, they saw sharp edges rising from the ground. Looking up into the heavens, the zenith reached out of sight. This structure was too large to be observed all at once.
"I think we've found that other threat Lilith mentioned," Luz said as they circled the Pyramid. Royal glumly nodded as he peered down at the base of the vessel. Ranks of Scorn marched out of the structure, moving with uncharacteristic discipline.
"This is it," Lilith said. "Whoever it is that Savathûn feared, they are in there."
"I'm passing this location along to Ikora and the Hidden," Amity said, punching a few buttons on her dashboard. "For now, we have a job to do. Let's find a place to land and get this done."
Royal gripped his throttle tightly and nodded. "Agreed." The three circled around, peeling away from the Pyramid. "There's nowhere to land within the city, and dropping right in will bring the entire Scorn garrison down on us."
"We can take 'em," Amity said.
"Maybe, but it will cost us time we can ill afford. We don't know how much longer the parasite will last. We'll land on the outskirts and push in."
"I shall direct you once you land," Mara said. "This place is born of despair; you will need a strong mind to navigate it. There is an underground passage that will lead you into the heart of the city."
Luz felt a slight tug on her hands, dragging them to adjust her steering. Mara guided her from across space and time, exerting her influence over the Guardians. Luz relinquished control to the Queen, allowing her to guide the Warlock. There was a sensation of cool metal sliding through the marrow of her bones as the Queen brought them to their destination.
Luz felt the familiar inversion of transmat as she appeared on the ground, Royal and Amity beside her. The Witch shuddered, cradling herself as she shook. Royal stretched his arms, similarly disconcerted by Mara's exertion.
"Yup, hated that," he muttered, shaking his hands to fling the lingering touch of the Awoken Queen away. The three stood at the mouth of another cave littered with the bodies of the Lucent Hive. Their corpses were strung up along the entrance, either as trophies or a warning. Royal gave an unimpressed grunt before drawing his rifle and setting off.
"This feels unusually vindictive for the Scorn," Luz said as she stepped into the cave. She stopped beside a Knight impaled on a stalagmite and crouched beside him. "Don't get me wrong; the Hive deserve this. But… I don't know; this doesn't feel right."
"The Scorn are unusually coordinated," Amity said. "Must be the influence of whatever is lurking within the Pyramid. Why do I feel we'll have to go in there?" Luz could only shrug before gesturing for Amity to follow her. While they were stopped, Royal had pushed ahead into a larger cavern. A wall of smooth obsidian stone with a large door carved into it awaited them.
"This is the gateway into the Dark city," Mara said, the radio struggling to maintain a connection underground. "It must have been built by that which commands the Pyramid."
"The Witness," Luz said.
"Not the Witness itself, but an agent enacting its will."
"A disciple," Royal said.
Mara hummed in acknowledgment. "Indeed. This place is a factory, in a sense. Built for the growth and facilitation of those like the parasite you now harbor."
Luz reached out and touched the door. The material responded to her touch, sliding open to permit entry. They entered the chamber with no small amount of trepidation. The air was tinged with a pervading sense of imminent doom. Shadows lashed at their ankles as they walked, weapons raised to keep the monsters in their minds at bay.
"You know a lot about the Pyramids," Royal said, his tone more than a little accusing. "How so?"
If Mara were offended by his allegation, they couldn't hear it. "One does not engage with the all-powerful without first gathering the most important tool in war: knowledge."
Royal frowned as the room opened into a vast chamber with a deep chasm in the center. Scorn Raiders patrolled the outcroppings, their crossbows slung over their shoulders. He brought his rifle in line, centering a Raiders helmet in his scope.
"Knowledge can be damning." He pulled the trigger, sending a Solar-infused round
straight through the Raiders skull. It fell to the ground in a pool of its own blood. He fired again, and another Raider collapsed, falling off the ledge and into the pit below. The rest quickly dispersed, fading into vaporous smoke as they relocated.
Amity rushed forward, blocking shots from the Raiders with her shield. She set upon them with fury, slamming into the first hard enough to completely shatter the beast. A second fired at her, only for Amity to raise her shield. The shot bounced off, ricocheting back into the Raiders chest. She flung her shield, slicing a third in half at the waist. The shield rebounded off the rocks and back into her hand as the others rejoined her.
"Whatever master is leading them hasn't made them any tougher," Amity said as her shield faded. Luz furrowed her brow as she knelt beside one of the Raiders.
"Wait, look at this." She pointed to its helmet of twisted, rusting metal. Where once it had been a dull yellow, now the metal was deep purple. "They've had a change in uniform."
"The Scorn are splintering into sub-factions," Royal mused. "Curious. The Witness has stripped them from Fikrul's grasp and put them here for a purpose." Checking his chamber to ensure a round was ready, he retook the march. The Dark City responded to their presence, opening doors and passageways to beckon them onward.
"If Hive worms are grown here, what exactly are we looking for?" Amity asked. "This city is huge. Without knowing what we have to find, we'll wander through the night without a beacon."
"You seek a source of immense Hive magic," Mara replied. "A cryptoglyph. It shall provide life to the parasite. Then, we will need a Darkness incubator to infuse them."
"Great, more Hive magic," Amity muttered.
"Savathûn's Throne World was recast in a sheen of Light," Lilith added. "When she returned after gaining her new power, she saw fit to stamp out many of the lingering poisons—including those within this city. But Savathûn is far too cunning to dispose of a potentially useful tool completely."
"I find it hard to believe that Savathûn would allow this city to exist within her dominion," Royal said as they emerged to the surface. The city stretched before them in all directions, filled with uncountable legions of Scorn that fortunately didn't notice them. They patrolled the streets, stepping over piles of slaughtered Hive that had once defended this very location.
"You don't have to believe it," Lilith said. "It's right before you, isn't it? For a time, it was a boon. An endless supply of worms to sate her army."
Royal stopped and looked out over the city once more as the others walked past him. Excluding the rabid Scorn, it was so still and lifeless. There was a suffocating peacefulness to this entire city that strangled the mind and choked the spirit. It was all so impossibly unnatural.
Amity gently smacked the back of her gauntlet against Royal's shoulder, drawing him from his stupor. With a tilt of her head, she beckoned him to rejoin them. Luz awaited at the base of a large set of stairs leading up toward a large temple. Royal smacked his wrist against the side of his helmet to clear the gloom from his thoughts before regrouping. Together, the three moved into the temple.
"I can feel a high concentration of Darkness," Luz said, shivering slightly as she entered the temple. "Fading, but strong."
"This place reeks of Hive magic, too," Amity said. "The cryptoglyph was here—recently." Royal walked further into the shadowy temple, keeping his rifle trained on the corners as he approached a small dias. A thick orange haze permeated the air above the dais. Royal put his hand through the cloud of energy, feeling it cling to his armor like a static charge.
"Resonance," Lilith said, unknowingly speaking aloud. After a second, she realized that she had given voice to her thoughts. "Savathûn knew this power. That is what she named it."
"The Collector wielded something similar to this as well," Royal said. "The first time I fought him. But this seems more potent. Better refined."
"It is the lingering trace of what we seek," Mara said. "Dispel it and see what happens."
"You don't know what will happen?" Royal asked, his tone apprehensive.
"I suspect dispelling it will guide us to the cryptoglyph directly," Mara replied tersely. "Two disparate points, connected by the Darkness."
"And if you're wrong?"
"I am rarely wrong."
"Rarely, of course, implies that you sometimes are."
"Only one way to find out," Luz said, stepping up to the dias. Reaching out, she seemed to cup the Resonance in her hands. It molded against her fingers as the Dark powers within her flared in response to the contact. She pried the power apart, connecting its latent memories to the object they sought. The power resisted for a moment before seemingly recognizing her. The Resonance crackled as it transformed into a portal of churning amber, watching them like the unblinking eye of a hurricane.
"This is gonna lead us to the cryptoglyph?" Amity asked. Luz reached out and pushed her hand through the portal. Verifying that it was safe, she slowly stepped through. Royal offered Amity a shrug before following. With a sigh, the Witch brought up the rear.
They emerged into a small hallway with Scorn already awaiting them. Four of the undead Fallen were transporting a large crate that radiated Hive magic. A Chieftain led the procession while a chained Abomination brought up the rear. The Scorn all whipped around as Luz emerged through the portal, her hand cannon already snapping up. A squeeze of the trigger popped the skull of a Stalker. Tainted Ether spilled from the creature's shattered skull as it fell to the ground. The caravan dropped their cargo as the other Guardians emerged from the portal.
The Chieftain snarled, thick strands of saliva connecting its rotting fangs. It drew a cannon from its back and squeezed the trigger, sending a wild spray of Solar shrapnel at the Guardians. Another of the Stalkers was cut down by the volley, falling into a pathetic pile of rotting meat. The molten scrap slammed into Royal's breastplate, forcing the Warlock to the side.
Luz shifted her aim to the Chieftain and began to pull the trigger. Before the hammer could strike the chamber, the Abomination swung one of its meaty fists into her chest. Luz grunted as she was flung into the wall. The Abomination rearer back to slam its engorged fist into her once more. A distinct whistling resounded as Amity's shield sliced through the swollen, blistered flesh. Dark Ether gushed from the Abomination's severed wrist, eliciting a growl of pain from the monstrosity. It rounded on Amity, striking with its good hand. She caught the blow against her vambraces and held against it. The force drove her across the ground.
Luz charged her hands with lightning, only for the two remaining Stalkers to dive on top of her. Their claws scratched at her armor as they dragged her to the ground. Gritting her teeth to fore down the sharp pain of their claws against her skin, she pumped electricity through her body. The Stalkers cried out in pain as their flesh smoked. They fell off of Luz as the Abomination swung at Amity again, shattering the black stone beneath its fist. Her magical ooze crept over the Scorn creature's arm, anchoring it to the ground. Amity whipped around, sending her shield spinning through the air once more. It met the Abomination's neck with little resistance. She caught the rebounding shield and stepped out of the way as it collapsed to the ground.
Turning back to the Chieftain, they saw Royal dive behind cover, a spread of infernal shrapnel right behind him. Having heard the Abomination collapse, the Chieftain flung a totem at the pair. The corroded metal burned with an unnatural heat as it opened, spraying flames over the two. They scrambled behind cover as the Chieftain brought its weapon to bear on them. The creature cackled as it squeezed the trigger. Its ramshackle weapon nearly shook itself apart as it unloaded, tearing chunks out of their cover.
"This place isn't as durable as the Pyramids," Amity noted, shielding herself from a rain of stone fragments.
"Could be useful," Luz replied, drawing her hand cannon. The two spun out of cover; Amity brought up her shield to absorb the Chieftain's fire while Luz destroyed the totem with a shot from her revolver. Her follow-up shots bounced off the Chieftain's shields, drawing out a snarl as it continued firing. Behind it, Royal dashed out of cover, his boots scorching the stones beneath them. He charged the Chieftain and, with a burning fist, plunged his hand into the Chieftain's back. The creature howled as Royal rightened his grip. The Exo said nothing as he planted a boot on the Scorn's back and pulled. The Chieftain's pitch rapidly rose until its body finally gave out, and Royal liberated its spine from its body.
The Chieftain keeled over, leaking its corrupted Ether across the floor. Royal stepped over the beast, flicking chunks of smoldering flesh off his gauntlet as he approached the discarded container.
"Bit overkill, don't you think?" Amity asked, giving the chunks of spine Royal had torn out a disgusted glance.
Royal shrugged. "Not really." There was the sound of splintering wood as he smashed the container open. Sure enough, there was a large cylindrical device awaiting them. The cryptoglyph was made of several thick discs marked with runes that could be rotated to channel its power in different ways. Hive magic permeated every inch of the device, roiling around Royal's hand as he hefted it into the air before passing it off to Luz for safekeeping.
"Good, you have it," Mara said. "The Scorn will soon know what you are after."
"So these are the Scorn," Lilith said. "They certainly live up to the name. All you need now is the incubator. Based on Mara's intel, you're not far."
"Should be easy to find," Luz said, turning to face the wall behind them. "There's only one way forward." Royal nodded in agreement, and the three immediately set off.
"Forgive me if I overstep, Your Majesty, but I feel you won't tell if I never ask," Amity said. "You know a lot about all of this—Savathûn, these Disciples, this place…"
"You wonder how I came across this information?"
"And why you've been so reticent about sharing it with your allies," Royal said, his voice more than a little bitter. Mara's discretion had nearly cost them everything.
"While you pursued Savathûn, the parasite and I traveled to the edges of the system in pursuit of our related interests. Much of this knowledge is still new, even to me."
"Knowledge of this caliber is difficult to bear," Lilith said. "I struggle to recall most of it, though our circumstances are hardly comparable."
Royal gave an impassive grunt, though dropped the topic as they exited into the open air. They were hundreds of feet in the air, the ground below obscured by a thick fog that swallowed the base of their perch. A massive stone bridge connected them to a ziggurat that reached even higher than their current elevation. Scorn swarmed at the other side of the bridge, crawling over each other as they rushed toward the Guardian.
"Mara was right; they know what we're after," Luz said, her eyes sparking with jagged blue bolts.
"If there's this many here, there must be something worth protecting," Royal agreed, slamming his burning fists together.
Amity summoned her magical gauntlets, Void spikes protruding from her knuckles. "Someone should really tell them to get out of the way."
The three set upon the Scorn army before them, unleashing the unstoppable power of the Light upon the ragged undead Eliksni. Royal's fire incinerated the flesh from their bones, leaving them as little more than searing mounds of misery. Luz atomized anything that got close to them, sending out powerful bursts of electrical energy that decimated entire ranks of Scorn. Amity was far more personal with her destruction, getting face to face with the mangled hordes. Each swing of her fists sent scores of Scorn flying off the bridge.
They pushed through the Scorn horde, leaving piles of broken bones and torn meat in their wake. One Raider clawed its way across the floor, dragging its dangling guts over the smooth stone. The creature reached for Luz's ankle—its single-minded drive rendering it oblivious to its own death throes—and gave one final screech of rage. The hammer of Luz's revolver kicked, and a bullet punched through the miserable creature's skull.
"Looks like the Scorn are setting up shop," Royal mused, crouching beside a small clump of barbed wire and bloodstained totems. "The Witness or its Disciple seems intent to solidify their presence in the Throne World."
"And with Savathûn out of commission, we'll just have to clear them out ourselves," Amity replied, tossing a Chieftain's corpse into the fog below.
Luz approached the doors to ziggurat, wincing slightly as the Darkness rose to meet her. The doors faded away as she pushed through, Royal and Amity not far behind her. Holding out her hand, sapphire crystals sprouted and receded along her forearm. "We're close, I can feel it."
The path to the center of the ziggurat was short and cramped, forcing the Guardians to move in single file. The air was filled with thick smoke, and the stench of rotting carcasses strangled the hallway, making it feel even more claustrophobic than it already was. The acrid aroma only got worse as they reached the end of the hall.
Before them was what appeared to be a large prayer chamber. Pyramid architecture was everywhere, twisting reality in on itself in a way that hurt to even think about. A small altar awaited them across the chamber, guarded by a large Scorn creature. It was similar in stature to Brutiks, though far more lithe. Its body was of remarkably good quality and was wrapped in fine linens. A pair of massive cleavers hung at its waist, the metal chipped from use. The Scorn's head tipped up as the Guardians entered its sanctum.
"First warned… of moment," The Scorn hissed. "Heimiks protect… incubator… Guardians… be severed." They reached down to their waist and drew their cleavers. The dull blades glinted in the dull shine of the chamber. Its eyes glowed hatefully as it scraped the edges against each other.
"First?" Amity questioned. "Think that might be our Disciple?"
"Questions for later," Royal said. "After we've killed this thing."
Luz drew raised Coldheart, lining it up with Heimiks. "Agreed."
Beneath its thick wraps, Heimiks gave a toothy grin before dissolving into a cloud of Dark Ether. It dashed across the room in a shadowy blue haze. Luz opened fire, slicing through the cloud with her crackling beam. The smoke coagulated into the towering form of Heimiks as it brought both of its cleavers down on Luz. She rolled to the side, allowing the blades to slam into the ground with a harsh clang. Royal stepped in with his sword rumbling while Luz and Amity opened fire on the gangly monster.
Heimiks cackled as the sound of its blades meeting Lament resounded off the walls. Sparks scattered across the room as Lament's teeth dug into the rusting edge of Heimik's cleaver. Drawing back, it swung at the Exo with its free hand. Royal dodged, allowing the strike to glance off his armor with a harsh ring. Despite the Scorn's wiry frame, it had some serious strength coiled up in its limbs. With speed that belied its bulk, Heimiks swung again. A hiss of static-filled pain escaped Royal's mouth as a cleaver dug into his trapezius. Lubricant from his internal pistons coated the blade.
Heimiks's moment of triumph was short-lived as a massive purple fist smashed into the side of its head. Heimiks was sent reeling by the blow, more than a few teeth knocked clean out of their decrepit mouth. It turned to glare at the golem of hardened purple sludge glaring at it with lifeless green eyes. A thin sheen of glowing Void Light coated the Abomination like a blanket. Heimik's scowled through its broken jaw and swung at the Abomination. On the ground, Amity brought up her fists to protect her face. The Abomination mimicked her motions, raising its shielded arms to block Heimiks's strike. Heimiks withdrew its weapon and swung again, striking the Abominations guard with uncanny speed. It battered the Abomination over and over, slowly chipping away its armor.
Luz peppered the Scorn's back with her machine gun. Thick, oil-like blood spilled from the wounds. Beside her, Royal fired a one-handed stream of fire, his other hand clamped over his wound as he soothed it with Light. Heimiks growled through shattered teeth and redoubled its assault on the Abomination. The shell of Void Light finally gave out, shattering beneath Heimiks's cleavers. Cackling in triumph, the oversized Scorn swung once more, putting all of its strength into the strike. Muddy flesh parted like slices of bread as Heimiks's cleaver passed right through it. The blade lodged itself in the center of the Abomination's forearm.
Heimiks's victory died in its throat when it realized it couldn't pull the blade free. The goo molded around the chipped sword, locking it in place. Amity reared her free arm back, and the Abomination followed. Her finger wove a spell circle, and the Abomination's hand sharpened into a hard edge. She swung the colossal blade through Heimiks's arm, cleaving right through the bone just above the elbow.
The gangly limb fell to the ground with a meaty thud, buckets of fetid ichor draining from the stump of half-decayed flesh. Snarling with indignation, Heimiks dissolved into dark blue smoke and withdrew from the Abomination as the construct tore the cleaver from its arm and discarded it.
"Will not… allow… you," Heimiks growled. "Must… end trespass. First will… reward."
"The beast is weakened," Mara said, her voice tinged with something they almost mistook for anticipation. "End its miserable existence."
"With pleasure." Luz was the first to act, unleashing a concentrated beam of lightning into Heimiks's chest. The Scorn writhed against the force, trying to shield itself with its remaining arm. Royal followed her lead, scouring the creature with the fires of hell itself. The scent of burning flesh filled the chamber. Amity's Abomination lumbered forward, transforming its hands into mallets. Heimiks could only stare on in agony as the golem brought its weapons down upon the creature, crushing its ribs and driving it to the ground.
Heimiks clawed at the stone floor with its remaining hand, glaring up at the Abomination with its cold hatred. Its visage impassive, the Abomination raised its foot and brought it down on Heimiks's head, shattering the skull beneath its muddy foot. Dark Ether spilled from the Scorn's neck, pooling into small clouds of corrupted vapor. Amity recalled her Abomination while Luz gave Heimiks's body a good kick.
"Doesn't get much deader than that," she said. "Now, let's see what it was protecting." She stepped past the body of Heimiks, approaching the altar at the back of the room. Reaching out, she pulled the parasite's transport from transmat. The capsule hissed as it unsealed. Magical energy flowed from the device like a river of starlight, concentrating upon the surface of the altar.
"This must be the incubator," Amity said, peering over Luz's shoulder. "It's a lot less impressive than I expected." She reached out to the poke the worm, trying to prod some measure of life from it. To her shock, the worm gasped, contorting on the incubator. Amity backpedaled, bringing up her fists in surprise.
She glared at the worm venomously. "Why, you little-"
"Easy, Mittens," Royal said, setting a hand across her shoulder to hold her back. "Let's hear it out first. Then we can talk about smashing its head in."
"Fear swells," the worm croaked, his shrill voice strained with agony. "Deception Queen."
"And the parasite speaks," Mara said. "How fortuitous."
"You didn't think this would work?" Luz asked, watching the worm's pained struggles.
"Savathûn's deceptions run deep. I fear that, somehow, this parasite is cursed. Perhaps picked up from Lilith. However… I have yet to see evidence of it."
"Strength… returning…" the worm said. "You have done well, Guardians."
"You know us?" Luz asked. The worm nodded as best it could, its movements still somewhat jerky.
"Watched many of you. Where host went, I went. Long for those days…"
"Pine no more, parasite," Mara said.
"Ah. Deception Queen. Hello again. You… well?"
"Stop dodging the question," Lilith snapped.
"Sharp Ears as well," the worm cackled. "Joyous reunion. Has been a very long time."
"Not long enough," Lilith replied dourly. "What do you know of the Witch Queen's involvement in the Collapse?"
"Hmmm. What do I receive?"
"You get to live," Lilith growled.
"No promises," Royal added.
"Provide what we want, and you'll have a host again soon," Mara said. "Aid us, and we shall aid you."
"Tempting. Who shall host this humble worm?"
"The Awoken Queen will provide. Do you agree?"
The worm fell silent for a moment as it cast its gaze around the room, inspecting the Guardians before it more closely. "Perhaps. Many supple hosts present."
Amity scowled. "Don't even think about it."
"Air here is like Fundament," he continued. "Feels good. Have not felt wind in eons."
"And you never will again," Royal said. "You can either accept our offer, or you can slowly wither away until your pathetic body eventually fails."
"Fine. I accept your offer, Deception Queen. A great team we have made in the past. Better than by herself. She plots. Plots to kill Eris Morn, Crow, Vanguard… you."
Luz's eyes widened slightly, and she shared a look with Amity. Royal didn't seem surprised, though his frown deepened.
"Is… is that true?" Lilith asked.
"It is adjacent to the truth," Mara replied evenly. "They are not plots. More contingencies. It is prudent to be prepared should any of my allies be swayed—or corrupted."
"As usual, Deception Queen provides half-truths. The what is not the why. Pulls wool over eyes once again."
"Enough, parasite. Keep your tricks out of the Guardian's heads."
"Fine. You shall become this humble worm's gracious host."
"You shall have your host once we have our information," Mara replied.
"And why spill my juice gossip first, hmm?" The parasite asked.
"Because we'll spill your insides if you don't," Amity said, cracking her knuckles with a resounding pop. The worm didn't seem very intimidated, casually shaking its body as though it were dislodging debris.
"Coward's way out. Kill me, lose priceless knowledge. Humanity suffers. Perhaps there is contingency for that too?"
"Guardians," Mara said. "Smash in the creature's skull."
Amity grinned fiercely. "Gladly." She stepped closer to the worm and raised an armored fist, preparing to bring it down on its body.
"Relax," the worm said calmly, giving the Witch pause. "Have your precious knowledge. Surprising, you'll find Savathûn much like Mara: riddled with doubts. In the face of Collapse, Savathûn—"
Before the creature could get another word out, it suddenly screamed in pain. Its body writhed once more, twisting over itself like a thousand invisible daggers had just been plunged into its flesh. Cries of torment filled the chamber as the worm teetered dangerously close to falling off the incubator.
"What's happening?" Royal asked, tense but uncertain about what to do. The worm continued to scream as Lancer quickly scanned it.
"Its life sign is fading fast," the Ghost quickly said. "The incubator won't be able to help him much longer."
"Cursed… by Witch Queen," the worm moaned. "After… everything…" Luz quickly withdrew the capsule and reabsorbed the parasite, finally silencing its agonized screams.
"So much for negotiations," Amity muttered.
"Mara, what do we do now?" Royal asked. There was a pause as the Awoken Queen ruminated.
"Await my arrival," she eventually said. "The worm needs a host, or it will die, and all of its knowledge shall perish with it."
"There has to be a better option," Luz objected.
"Do not worry, I have prepared for this moment," Mara replied. "I shall be with you shortly. Lilith, remain here."
"Not on your life," Lilith said. "The only person who knows the parasite as well as I do is Savathûn. I'm coming with you."
"Very well."
The line went dead as the two departed from the Enclave. The Guardians awaited their arrival, watching the worm thrashed in pain.
"Please," he whined. "Too much. Do something."
"You'll live," Royal said, far more interested in inspecting his gauntlet than the worm's pathetic existence. "Quit complaining." The worm whimpered but stopped complaining, electing to suffer in silence broken by intermittent cries.
Eventually, there was a distortion in the air as Queen Mara and Lilith transmatted into the chamber. Lilith stumbled as her stomach lurched, wavering uncertainly as her already pale skin grew yet more washed out. Royal wrapped her free arm over his shoulders and helped stabilize her.
Queen Mara stepped closer to the worm, looking down at it with luminous eyes. The worm tilted its head slightly and tried to speak, only to cry out again. Mara's face tightened, and she averted her gaze.
"Queen Mara, are you alright?" Luz asked. "You've been acting strange this entire mission."
Mara drew in a deep breath before slowly letting it out. "Before coming to you, I sought information about the 'Voice in the Dark.' The Witness. What I found… well… You could say I was granted a personal insight of our impending doom at the Witnesses many hands—its poisons piercing my mind and thoughts. For once, I had no plan. I know not what the next move is, only that it must be made."
"Cease… pontificating," the worm croaked. "I need a host, now!"
"Are you sure this is the move to make?" Amity asked. "Who knows what this thing will do to you."
"Trust me," she replied simply before extending her hand. "The cryptoglyph, if you would."
Luz pulled the cylindrical contraption out of transmat and looked it over one last time. It felt heavy in her hand, leaking its unnatural Hive magic like radiation through a broken seal. Her fingers were tightly wrapped around the heavy object, and she tried to discern Mara's plan with just her eyes. The Awoken Queen's gaze bored into her eyes, stern but with a hint of pleading within them.
Luz sighed. "I hope you don't regret this." With a heavy hand, she offered the cryptoglyph to Mara. With a gracious nod, Mara accepted the device. Holding the cryptoglyph above the worm with one hand, her other stretched over the wretched parasite. Closing her eyes, the magic began to flow.
"Hive parasites feed off the actions of their hosts," Lilith said as Mara coaxed the magic from the cryptoglyph. "For Savathûn, this beast fed off her cunning. The more duplicitous the act, the more sustenance he drew. She must lure the worm in with an initial offering."
"What will Mara provide?" Amity questioned. Lilith pursed her lips, not having an answer to give. Mara's eyes shot open, each glowing bright green with the light of Hive fire. She began to chant, the words sharp enough to slice the tongues of those who spoke them and the ears of those who heard them. The rancid energies of Hive rituals filled the chamber, drawing upon the death the Guardians had recently enacted. It all felt wrong, similar to when a word had been spoken too often and now seemed utterly alien.
The worm started to glow, gradually becoming encased in a thick cocoon-like weave. He gave a shrill whimper of satisfaction as the pain began to recede. The burning light grew more and more fierce until it was nearly blinding. Luz was forced to avert her gaze until the chamber finally grew dark again.
Where once there had been a worm, there was now a strange contraption. It housed the container that had wrapped around the parasite, rhythmically pumping air—or something decidedly more magical—into the parasite. A large tube emerged from one end while a stock and trigger sprouted from the other. The worm was no more; now, there was only a large gun.
"Deception Queen!" The worm shrieked from deep within the weapon. "You tricked me!"
"I did exactly what I said I would do," Mara said, slightly winded from the effort. "I provided you with a host. Though it is more of a prison, molded from the Hive's own power. You will feed off whatever violence your wielder enacts, either through this weapon or their others."
"Not what we agreed!"
"Enough, worm. You will live just as promised. Now, I believe you still owe us information."
"Me? Make good? After your deception?" That last remark apparently left the worm absolutely indignant. Were she of a more sadistic mind, Luz may have taken some cruel pleasure from the misfortune of this creature who had been the catalyst for all of Savathûn's evils. For now, she would settle on merely being mildly amused by this twist of fortune.
"My earlier proposition of your insides lining the floor still stands," Amity offered, cracking her knuckles again. She was starting to run out of knuckles to crack. So, it was fortunate that the worm decided to talk.
"Guardians. Always violent. Fine. Have information, but only this. No more. Ever."
"Oh no, please don't threaten us with finally shutting up," Royal muttered.
"Silence, tin man," the worm scoffed. "Forget how Savathûn ran circles around you? Now, truth you seek. Humanity's collapse. Even Witness was deceived. The Witch Queen did its bidding. Earned its trust. Rode alongside to apocalypse. Watched many burn. But the Witness turned violent gaze toward Traveler. Witch Queen projected lies. Clever deceptions cloaked in shadows. Tides turned. Witness sent away, across the stars."
The tension in the air was tangible, enough to physically seize and crush between one's fingers as they all processed that information.
"I'm sorry, are you saying that… Savathûn saved us from the Witness?" Luz asked. Behind her, Royal scoffed and looked away.
"Of course. The Traveler didn't lift a finger to help us; the Witness was betrayed."
"I… I remember this now," Lilith said. "I remember what she did. She stole… something from the Witness and cast it away, obscuring the location of the Traveler. Of Humanity."
"Savathûn did not save Humanity," the worm scoffed. "Merely a byproduct. She saved Traveler. My promise, delivered. Will say no more. Ever."
"Wait," Lilith said, suddenly jerking forward and threatening to fall off of Royal. "The Pyramid in the swamps and the Disciple within! What do you know?"
"You seek…" the worm's voice trailed off. "No. Fools endeavor. Will have no part of it. Abandon this course before you destroy yourselves, and me along with you." With that, the worm fell silent. Mara took the weapon in her hands, holding it like a sword when presenting it to another. After a moment of deliberation, she presented the weapon to Lilith.
"Are you sure?" Lilith asked, eyeing the weapon uncertainly.
Mara nodded. "Who better to be a custodian of the Worms prison than one of Savathûn's former prisoners? I, for one, can enjoy its bitter irony." A low grumbling emanated from the weapon; the worm was displeased but didn't want to give them all the satisfaction of voicing it. Lilith accepted the weapon, holding it uncertainly but steely grip.
"So, what's next?" Luz asked.
Mara's eye flashed with light, burning brightly as she considered the future. "We crack open the Pyramid and slay its disciple."
And that will wrap up the Parasite quest line. I hope you guys all enjoyed. Once again, I will need to take another break so I can work on Vow of the Disciple and the chapters beyond. My current progress puts it at about 5k words and I just got to the first encounter. I'm trying to trim the fat, but don't be surprised if it becomes another two parter. I don't really want it to be a two parter, but who knows at this point.
Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a bunch of recently refreshed Eldar models that I need to go buy. My poor, poor wallet scream in anguish, yet I care not for its plight.
Elthreee: Very happy to see Lux and Amity have their own chapterIt's gonna be a slow burn but surely it'll be worth it whenever they seriously gain feelings for each other again. Also, shame on them for not surveying the area anymore after they brought down the building. Everyone knows that Gods in Destiny are never truly dead, even after being vaporized by the power of a star, smh.
If this is a slow burn, I hope I never get invited to a cookout. Moving slowly, building up that trust again. I feel like I've gone a bit to fast in some places, but I'll just have to see it out. Can't wait for season 17 to really start making some headway.
GuardianLightTheVanguard: 1) it looks like Fikrul has plans for The Collector.
2) I hope Royal, Luz Noceda And Amity Introduce Lilith To Empress Caiatl and her Imperial Cabal.
3) I hope Royal, Luz Noceda And Amity Introduce Lilith To Mithrax, Eido And The House of Light.
4) I hope that when Royal Takes Lilith to visit her Sister's Tombstone, I hope Lilith Asks The Traveler to Bring Her Sister Eda Back as Guardian Warlock.
5) I hope Royal, Luz Noceda And Amity Introduce Lilith To Queen Mara Sov and Petra Venj.
6) What will be Lilith's reaction when Royal arrives with Lilith on his ship in the Last City.
7) I Hope Royal Helps Lilith in Her Recovery and after Completing each Mission of the Next Seasons, Luz Noceda, Amity And Royal Will Visit Lilith and See How She Is and What Her Health Status Is Currently.
8) What is your opinion on the Festival of the Lost 2025 armor.
9) What is your opinion on Skolas' Kell's Revenge Mission.
10) I hope Amity introduces her Ghost Pal to Lilith.
11) I hope Luz Noceda Introduces her Ghost Aurora to Lilith.
12) I hope Royal introduces Lilith to Elsie Bray (Exo Stranger), they would definitely be great friends and with Iris too.
13) (note this message in your notebook for this Fanfic), if Fikrul Intends to Resurrect The Collector in Episode Revenant, I hope The Collector has His Redemption and in the End is our Friend Just like in the Show at the End of The Owl House Please my friend Penguin1673.
14) I hope Royal Introduces Lilith To Saint-14.
15) I hope Royal, Luz Noceda And Amity Introduce Lilith To Amanda Holliday.
16) January 21st this Tuesday It's been 2 years since The Owl House Season 3 Ep2 For The Future premiered.
1. Not Fikrul, someone else.
2. and 3. I mean, we have nothing to show that Eliksni and Cabal can wield the Light outside of Ghaul and his shenanigans.
4. Mayhaps. I want to get Lilith back to the Isles sometime soon.
5. Well, she's met Mara now.
6. Want to get to that as well.
7. She's recovering well, though she still isn't ready for fieldwork.
8. It's neat enough. The only set I care strongly about (The Titan one) won, so that's cool. What's better is that we're getting the other wizard sets in Heresy.
9. I haven't run it. Need to at some point.
10. and 11. Yeah, thhe would at some point. Not sure if it would be an especially important moment.
12. Oh yes indeed. The age of Luz's harem has ended, Royal's harem has begun. I kid, of course, but it's fun to poke.
13. Looks like that one was noted for the fanfic, good job. But again, it's not Fikrul who is interested in the Collector. Fikrul doesn't have any sway over the Throne World Scorn.
14. They will meet at some point.
15. That one... maybe. Not sure.
16. The passage of time is a nebulous concept and I pay it no mind.
Unity123: So I'm going to have you follow along with me real carefully here.
So the Witness wants the Guardians dead or otherwise, but they don't want to do it themselves.
So he sends Rhulk to go kill the Guardians, but he doesn't want to do it himself.
So he sends Calus to go kill the Guardians, but he doesn't want to do it himself.
So he sends Xivu Arath, Hive Goddess of War to go kill the Guardians.
But then she sends Kelgorath to go kill the Guardians.
And if you really want to be an asshole and be even more grandular, he says. "I'll go send these BUGS to go kill the Guardian!"
So the Witness, sends a Disciple, who sends an Emperor, who sends a Hive God, who sends a Knight, who sends Scorn to go kill the Guardians.
And you know what's even funnier that after the Guardians chases down Kelgorath, and Xivu Arath, Calus has the perfect chance to kill the Guardians, but he instead goes out of his way to assassinate the guy he hired to assassinate the Guardians.
Secretly genius these stories are. Many original ideas these games have.
This meme makes more sense during the Season of the Seraph.
*Insert Captain America "I understood that reference" meme*
GodzillaMaster: Aw, I was hoping the Collector would get a second chance at life, a life where he isn't a minion of the Witness
Unfortunately, the chances of that are not very good.
Unity123, but like, for the second time: We can say that Iris and her team acquired the Osmium Shard from Immaru. There's one that's been bugging me. Who exactly has been writing the lore books in the games? I know there was that Psion with the Chronicon and Oryx with the Books of Sorrow, but the most of the others? Is there just this one guy that pops in everywhere and writes stuff down when no one's looking, or is this just side-buisness for Xur on his off-days?
We've never seen Xur and the lore writers in the same room at the same time.
hornig3: Well Lilith is doing well all things considered. She knows about Rhulk but does she know about the secret hidden on Neptune? If not, could Osiris be the only of the two to know because of his connection to the paracausal? I also wonder how Saint-14 might react around her. Most likely he'll enjoy her presence but have a stinge of envy for her waiking from Savathun's grasp and not Osiris. He'd probably hate himself for it but I doubt that envy would go away quickly. Of course since one is paracausal and one is not Lilith is probably lucky to be alive and at most all Osiris got was mental scars.
I know a few of you guys were expecting Lilith to be up and attem by Season 18, but I am a very impatient man. As I said before, I'm looking forward to digging into the parallels between her and Osiris. How she interacts with Saint will also be very fun to dig into.
BlueRoseLevi: Another good chapter, yippee
Lilith foreshadowing VotD, nice
Finally the Collector's missing body mystery comes to light
Ah, Šimmumah ur-Nokru, a nice little foreshadowing to GotD
And a little bit of dramatic irony for the Collector's body still being intact
Also the end bit, perfectly sums up this episodes steps
Until next chapter
The base idea for the Collector ressurection thing was heavily inspired by Ghost's, so I figured that I may as well just have it be the same boss to add some continuity.
mmmplays27: welcome back, o writer of fanfictionI loved the setup for Ghosts of the Deep, I did not expect that
omake felt too real (in the best way possible)
I think that a lot of the issues people in this community have with the seasonal structure (or just the game in general) are vastly overplayed, but getting a radio message from an NPC that is literally two steps away from you is admittedly really weird.
"Royal," Amity began, an inquisitive hand placed on her chin. Royal glanced over the top of his book to acknowledge her while Elisabeth typed away on her datapad beside her. "I have a question for you."
"And I have an answer," the Warlock said, memorizing his page and setting the book down. "Hit me."
"What do you miss most about being Human?" Amity asked. "You know, one made of meat and all."
Royal paused for a moment, furrowing his brow as he thought. The question had given him serious pause. "I'm… not sure I could pin down any one thing. I miss a lot. The sun on my skin. Wind in my hair. Touching something and actually feeling it, not some cold facsimile. Nothing about my body feels right, like everything is the wrong size."
Amity fell silent as Royal spoke, looking down at her own hands. Paladin and Venator had been reluctant to disclose the specifics of existing as an Exo, often only giving her vague descriptions like 'uncomfortable' or 'inconvenient.' Royal made it sound downright horrific.
Beside him, Elisabeth took a long sip of her drink before setting it down, her optics never leaving her datapad. "I miss whistling."
Royal nodded. "Ooh, yeah, that's a good one."
"You don't miss anything else?" Amity asked.
Elisabeth shrugged. "Sure, I miss a few things here and there. But I had a neurodegenerative disease in my brain. Not exactly itching to go back to that." Amity hissed and nodded, understanding where she was coming from. Royal, on the other hand, whipped around to face her.
"You had a what in your what!"
"Oh yeah," Elisabeth realized. "I never told you about Clovis's genetic experiments."
Royal's blank optics twitched as he stared at Elisabeth. Placing his hands together, he took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Alright. Next time I see Clovis, I'm gonna fucking kill him."