Queen's note: So… this turned into another massive chapter. Good luck everyone! Also if you'd like, come visit me and others on the Garnets/Doom discord for low impact chaos. Going to try and get back into doing the prompts again there.

Garnets

Chapter Ninety Five:

Out of the Shadows

In the chaos of the battle, the man had just a few odd moments to catch his breath. He was being covered by his new Sentinel brothers and a darker spot between the lights from Vega's drones. Haco looked back and forth, no demons were directly near him, so the Argenta man pressed a hand to his sore ribs. Pulsing his wraith gift and taking the chance to take a breath. Force himself to breath in slowly as he focused on one of the shimmering red-gold barriers in the large doors to this yard.

For a moment his mind lost its guard, unfocused from the present. Had Haco been alone it might have been a fatal slip, but there were thankfully eight others holding and fighting the horde. Though for the man, several different points in his past were overlapping with what he was actually seeing. A pretty good clue his head had hit the inside of his helmet a little too much. He remembered this yard, remembered taking a young clan sister here. So small she had not cleared his knee, still in the protection of her parents visiting him when the city was pale, the gardens were green and vibrant splashes of colors from seasonal flowers.

Haco swallowed, remembering this same place in the siege of Taras Nabad. The first time he had seen a titan, the Dreadnought that came towards the upper city as big as an Atlan. He remembered this place after the siege as well, the recovery, seeing it again in the dark before the portal opened.

He wanted to see it again in light, more so after the stone work was repaired.

Movement had the man glancing at the doors again. Seeing mostly only the outlines of who were fighting on either side of the barrier. There were larger, familiar forms Haco recognized by the outline. Marauders.

Three in total. One to Haco's right, and two the other way with one on either side of the barrier.

"Atlan," Haco spoke up as he watched, trusting Vega would hear him. Seeing what he was sure was Asin deflecting an energy ax and resorting to slugging the altered being that was once an Argenta that made it into the yard. Zanin's form was seen past the barrier on the left, dropping a broken firearm and lifting his sword- that long sword seemed notably shorter than before. "Let the Slayer know we have Marauders incoming."

"I have already warned him. He wants you to focus on the Corpse Lord with him." Vega's steady voice spoke in the man's helmet.

It looked like the ones on the left had mostly those brute like beasts with it. The other two Sentinels were attempting to close the door from the other side of the barrier to keep the feral demons outside, and defend at the same time. Keeping most back but the flood of beasts in the horde had some spilling out into the yard. Haco turned, catching movement as several imps sprawled out of the other barrier, looked confused before screeching in delight that there was still a fight.

Something confusing was going on on Captain Mila's side. There was still an altered Marauder visible through the barrier. Only this one was not fighting the guarding Sentinels personally and… he was pacing? Walking back and forth on the bridge in front of the glowing hell portal as its horde flowed out in distinct waves. Watching the Sentinels fight, but though having a weapon hilt drawn its energy blade was not activated. Just a shield to deflect a stray shot.

There was also a distinctive shimmer of gorgon crystal on its chestplate. A green color that was just getting through the darkness and the barrier. What was that Marauder going to do, or coming for-

Lily.

Haco realized after a second.

A gorgon infected Marauder, who was not actively fighting but seemed to be studying. It would be after the little lady for their new master. The girl's gorgon mother in hell. Something must have gotten past Valen, gotten away from all of them, in the fight below the throne room. Only one with enough sense was needed to get away. Either from one of the two Barron's hordes, or a stray picked up, had to get away to let the mother know her mortal child was here.

The Slayer's mark pulsed, Haco growling as he felt his cracked ribs knitting back together rapidly. Pulling on that new gift of healing while trying to use his wraith gift to numb. It was not the best to focus on what was around him, Haco had to put trust in his new brothers, but the healing was effective. He could stand up again and take a deep breath without sharp pain. It still throbbed and pulsed dully with the echo of the pain.

Yet it was manageable.

Haco got up from where he had knelt in the shadows out of the direct line of sight of the Corpse Lord. There was a flicker of amusement in the man, that the dead sorceress could not tell the difference between him and the Slayer.

Her back was to Haco, currently screaming as she was lashing out in frustration. Likely trying to smack Slayer, but it was an action that was far from controlled.

Haco grinned in his helmet, already moving, running as the man caught an energy blade that was tossed to him. He charged it with a mix of his wraith gift, and some of the Slayer's gift, seeing the ax gained a few veins of burnt orange to reflect that. The Sentinel could only note it before he was under the Corpse Lord, dodging an arm that was swinging back and half jumped, half climbed up her 'good' leg.

The man grabbed at a bony spur, balancing just a moment with the moving leg and then put his whole body into swinging the energy blade into the meat of the giant calf. Cutting through the hell growth covering that was working as the lich's muscle. One good cleave to get through, and then Haco had to rip it out and adjust to put all his strength into another blow. Opening the wound wider and he could see the bones from whatever demon made up the inside.

Haco heard the rough, barking laugh from Slayer, it was all the warning he had to hold on tighter as the Corps Lord lunged and tried to slam her closed fists onto the other. Making a hissing screech as Slayer dodged out of the way with speed and nimbleness that did not seem to match his bulk and armor. The new war god laughed again as he came back to grab a large hand to twist and then flex and breaking the Lich's other hand and wrist.

Slayer was starting to play with the Corpse Lord. Harassing her and pointedly frustrating her to lash out in a way no experienced greater demon would. Then screaming in frustration at the lines and harpoons that kept her from going farther than the middle of the yarn. Even with the too long arms, Slayer was about to get right back out of reach and lost footing as the leg Haco was digging into started to buckle.

Haco realized, with the other sentinels about then after Slayer had, this was not like the last time they had fought a Corpse Lord. Or the stories of it some had been told.

She did not know how to fight.

Not properly, relying on the size and mass of this body, as well as the hell magics.

The drawback though of something bigger than you, that was not as experienced with fighting, was the sheer lack of any stable patterns. The Corpse Lord was apparently only adept with hell magic and portals. Too emotional to focus on getting the thick harpoons out of her current body, wanting to only go after the one she knew took her husband.

Most of those portals were opening outside the barriers on the main doors. Now and then something would open inside but the Sentinels were keeping up on thinning the fodder demons to let their once War King deal with the bigger issue.

She had no real control over the hordes coming, too emotional in anger and grief, plus not knowing how to fight. No wonder three Marauders had come to try and salvage the battle. Or was it two? That one to the left was still making no move to enter or get into the yard where the main fight was.

Haco had to focus back then, just barely missing getting crushed as the Lich staggered again. Starting to look down to see what happened with her legs. He grabbed an exposed bone, using it and his ax blade wedged into the so-called muscle to start just…ripping.

The man could almost hear the old voice of Slayer from the past. A low chant in the back of the mind as he leaned into the Slayer's mark and gift a little more. To just rip and tear. And rip and tear- rip and tear and tear and rip-

Slayer was there, Haco was just barely aware of his brother and king. Feeling more the pulse of power that came from the war god in time with Slayer's own heartbeat. Feeling it overpowering his own heart. Everything washing out to the task at hand right then.

-rip and tear. Rip and Tear-!

Some aware part of Haco's mind wondered how it was possible to rend and tear apart the demon growth with bare hands. Only feeling the power and hunger that the Slayer shared as they tore through the hell growth to break the real body under it. Then he wondered what happened to his blade- oh it was lodged in the hip of the lich above.

He had no idea how it got up there.

Massive hands were clawing at him, them. Him? Pulling and scraping and trying to pry off the two off the Corpse Lord as she shrieked as if being bitten by something venomess.

Maybe in a way she was.

Getting the two off also meant the Lich had to sacrifice several chunks and strips off of her leg. Flinging first Haco away and then losing a digit as she tried to throw Slayer off as well.

"Stay away you filthy beasts!" the Corpse Lord yelled as she hurriedly called on a shield to curl around her form. Then fling an uncontrolled, but arching pulse of hell energy at him.

Slayer had rolled with the landing a bit better, and was already back on his feet and charging while Haco was rolling up. Shaking his head as the background chant stopped suddenly after being thrown almost across the yard.

The Sentinel sensed the movement and hell energy before the warning came. Dodging out of the way, feeling some of the scattered edges of the shotgun spray hitting his armor. Coming around Haco crossed his arms to block the shield bash as best he could from the taller Marauder. It forced him to slide back several feet, and if not for some of the Slayer's gift still pulsing active in his system, that would likely have done quite a bit of damage..

The bigger creature, being, gave a surprised grunt as his shield was shoved harshly back and to the side. Jerking to avoid a hit to the chest but did not completely miss the blow as it connected with his side.

The Marauder backed up, a growling starting before faltering as he could not bring up the shotgun again and was for a minute on the defensive. Making use of the Jekkad blessed speed but the armored Sentinel was mostly keeping up. Not step for step but moving to meet the swifter Marauder where he was going.

Driving him away from where the Corpse Lord was trying to recover behind her shields.

Haco growled himself as he saw the shield coming back around, starting to brace before someone as tall as him collided with the Marauder's back and side. Asin was back, it looked like he was bleeding from his side through an opening in the armor, but still on his feet.

The Marauder staggered, shook himself and swung his shield to break off the hold and jumped back to make space. A screech had him looking to the side for a moment and did a double take seeing… the Slayer?

"The Usurper…?" Golden eyes went back to the form of Haco, standing even with Asin in the silver Night Sentinel armor. Only Haco was still very much in the prototype armor of the Praetor suit.

Haco grinned, realizing that the Marauder had thought he was the Slayer at first. Might have even forgotten that the real Slayer was shorter than most unaltered Argenta. The Marauder was only just realizing there were two men in similar armor, and hesitated as he tried to pick a target.

All three missed the two moving shadows coming up, moving like wolves their armor was based on. The first Shadowed Sentinel was climbing up on the Marauder's back, no shame in latching onto the ends of his horns and heaving backwards with knees braced on his shoulders. Ignoring the yell as their companion was attacking the base of his spine and trying to pull one of the belts off.

Asin and Haco launched as one, moving to grab at the taller marauder's arms before he could get a hold of the lighter armored argenta. Taking the chance to restrain to give the smaller two a chance to do some sort of damage-

There was a sense of power coming barreling over towards them, Haco recognizing the owner and giving a warning shout. He switched from grabbing an arm to grabbing the massive shotgun. "Drop off the traitor!"

Asin was shifting much the same, going after the shield the snarling Marauder was holding, getting out of the direct path like Haco. The two shadows dropped off and scattered- stolen bandoliers and belts in hand.

The real Slayer came in like a trainwreck. Colliding with the Marauder's open front as he was starting to yell at the thieves. Bodily ripping the Marauder away and into the dirt of the yard, rolling once before landing on top. Haco and Asin both staggered, but each had a new goodie in hand.

Haco laughed as he hefted his new shotgun, turning in time to see Slayer pulling back his left arm. Blade snapping out and repeatedly punching, and stabbing at the same time, the head and chest of the marauder until it was starting to char under him. Haco's grin died as he saw the bleeding, visible energy crawling over the Slayer as he snarled and snapped wordless primordial sounds. Starting to tip over into his rage as he turned on them-

And snorted, Slayer recognized them by way of his Mark surprisingly easily. Shaking off the death ash and standing back up as the Praetor suit was absorbing the released energy from the Marauder. Stolen bits of energy from the divinity machine returned to who it was intended for.

"…that's new." Asin said in surprise, not at all bothered by the shadowed Sentinel using him as a living shield. Leaning around him to stare at Slayer that was shaking himself again.

"Yeah… brother?" Haco asked, watching their war king coming over to him. Staring not at Haco but what he held.

With no shame, Slayer reached out and pulled the Marauder's shotgun out of Haco's hands and purred while turning it in his hands. Fingers tracing the engravings over the handle that had been filled with some sort of reflective stone or crystal from hell. The once wood that made up the handle felt more like petrified wood, and had careful reinforcement bands. The stone engraving made the pattern reflect what little light there was. At the moment like twisting blue vines with some edges of red reflecting Slayer's own energy. The two barrels were even carefully embossed to keep the vine pattern as well as almost delicate looking glyphs. Old clan markings, and maybe the attempt to put the weapon's history on it.

Slayer, fully distracted, cracked the shotgun open. Only partly aware of the constant low, but excited rumbling coming out of him as he pulled out the spent shells, taking in the larger size. Doing a quick mental calculation of what the spread and kickback would be for this weapon.

He liked what he came up with. Extending his will to the Praetor suit itself as he put the shells into suit storage. Letting the armor itself start scanning as he pushed it to start linking this new shotgun as well. Making sure it should, and would be able to make more ammo for its size.

Slayer looked up at the taller Haco who was more growling in protest compared to the new god's practical purring.

Mine.

This belonged to him now.

"Hey!" Haco protested as he watched his shorter king notice the Shadowed. Stalking over to the startled Sentinel to grab the bandolier belt of unspent shells to give the Praetor suit as well, though kept two for reloading.

"Rude." Haco noted, huffing. He had wanted that, and there was no reason to terrorize the new Sentinels.

Slayer gave a happy grumble, feeling the building moment of rage easing back as he looked over his shoulder. Paused, thought a moment as he realized that Haco was weaponless. A quick dip into subspace and he was tossing his personally modified Ballista at Haco. Knowing not only that the taller man preferred those, but was disturbingly effective with the ballista. "Hmm?"

"...okay that's a fair trade." Haco aloud, making sure the weapon he got to use once was loaded. Pretty sure he would not keep it, but he would make full use of it.

Also there was a chance it would reload automatically from the Praetor suit if he stayed close enough. Haco might not have to tap into his ammo stash for the ballista.

"Brothers," Asin's low voice drew attention, then the others were turning to see what he was looking at. "The dead Lord is rising again."

Slayer focused back on the lich, seeing that she was glowing and starting to turn her hell magic back on herself. At least her current body, the shredded leg being binded back together with the hell growth. Feeding it energy to fuel that growth.

A nudge to his right arm had Slayer turning, seeing the other Shadowed. She was holding one of the stolen belts from the Marauder up to him. He had a puzzled moment realizing that the sentinel was shorter than him, not crouching anymore but a whole head shorter. She was young, and already an accomplished fighter, and offering… not more ammo.

"I don't think I can protect them myself, Lord Slayer." She explained, being careful with the belt. Looking down at the capsules in a mix of worry and disgust. Not at what she held but what it meant.

Slayer carefully picked up the belt, recognizing it as a smaller version of a Trident's storage bandelier of captured souls. The Marauder had been taking souls as trophies? The new god shifted his hold and tucked the belt into his subspace storage. They would be safe in there with the others until he could really deal with safely freeing them. The Praetor armor would numb any pain they were put through with the Marauder.

"Where are you, beasty?" The Corpse Lord hissed as she started to look around again.

Slayer tapped the shorter Sentinel beside him. Pointing to one of the lines holding the lich, she nodded and shifted behind him before running into the shadows again. Those needed to be checked at the anchor points. The demigod turned back as he saw Asin moving to the barrier again, while Haco and the other Sentinel were going to get in better positions with the other five.

The Corpse Lord was just noticing Haco in the blue light, hissing as she lashed out with a pulse of energy not unlike a Ballista. Only for the Sentinel to fire back and break the wave, much to her shock that that was possible. Mistaking Haco once again in the odd light.

It was such an odd and curious thing for Slayer to notice something that he was not used to. The lich did not know who he was.

Not as The Slayer, or even 'The Beast' that hell referred to him as. Even though she actively called him a beast, it was more like she thought he was an annoying animal. Not a greater threat. None of his many titles and half names. She was purely angry at him for killing her… husband?

That Marauder that had almost killed Viola was married to this? Who she used to be?

Something like memory twitched in the back of Slayer's mind as he was circling into a likely blind spot. Making use of the lich's distraction. Like he should know who this Corpse Lord was before this change. She had mentioned Deag Nilox as a father?

The Corpse Lord had just gotten her good leg fixed from being shredded by both Haco and Slayer working together. The hell magic was being used to actively heal the rest of her current body again. That energy ax was getting embedded even deeper into the hell growth covering. Yet this also inadvertently let the petrification spread through her torso as the spell to heal was used.

"Wha…?" This time she noticed it while getting up, the Lich's leg buckled under her weight. Catching a chunk of white that fell off her hip. She lifted it while holding her protective shield, watching as parts of that hand started to petrify as she watched. Though unlike the other demons of days before there was no pain or screaming. Just puzzled curiosity. "We are nowhere near the Dreadnought Lord's body…?"

The Corpse Lord turned her attention to look down the stretches of pale chalky white wrapping around and in her frame. Actively spreading faster now. Then to what was beyond her shield as the Sentinels were finishing up what had come through the portals and turned fire onto the shield to break it. She looked down and then back and forth between the gates, as if noticing that something was not happening for the first time. There were not nearly as many creatures as there should have been coming through the barrier protected portals on either side of the yard.

The Corpse Lord shook her right hand, trying to claw off some of the petrified flesh. Shaking herself, attempting to shed off a layer of hell growth, digging out turned brittle, chalky white bones. "No… nono, what is happening to this body?"

Slayer hummed as he got a Hell Knight's head under his boot. Walking through the death ash, a low, satisfied sound came out of his chest as he saw the lich trying to shed a good third of her mass. When the sightless seeming head swung towards him, the first pangs of hunger started.

Not his hunger for violence and blood, or even Last Gift- who was still a bit over fed.

Sunwalker had just really woken up after being reforged, the older living weapon had just become aware of the Corpse Lord.

It was hungry.

For just a moment, Slayer debated on not doing anything with-

Hungry- Angry- Offended-!

It will bite you, Slayer, bond or no if they were not fed right now you ungrateful wielder…!

Slayer grinned in his helmet, one hand reaching back to hook his new shotgun to his back and grasp Sunwalker's larger hilt. Still hearing the older Crucible growling in the back of his mind. Loud enough that he was surprised that Haco could not hear it.

"What are you… oh." The Sentinel started to ask as Haco turned to see Slayer shifting his hands on the larger hilt of the crucible before the darkness was lit up with ruby red tones of light. "That seems like overkill."

The death god laughed as he looked at the now activated blade of the Argenta made crucible, feeling the weight settle in his hands. It would, in fact, be quite a bit of overkill to finish off the already breaking apart body of the Corpse Lord.

It would be a lot of fun to use it though.

The labradorite-like living blade showed semi transparent in the dark, with flashes of bright metallic tones. The glyphs in the blade flared as darker, burned orange in color as Slayer shifted his grip on the hilt. Feeling the heat and danger that rolled off the blade, enough that Haco stepped back to put some distance between them. The long blade almost seemed oversized in Slayer's hands as the new god stalked towards the lich's shields.

"How… do you have that?" The Corpse Lord demanded as she saw the 'second' being with the crucible.

The Crucible of Taras Nabad.

"That is not impossible!" The lich heard her own voice lifting in pitch. "No one is worthy to be the new War King! How did you steal that?!"

How was it possible to have the crucible here when the Dreadnought was not moving? The Titan commander would have reformed into a new body if the crucible was taken out of its body.

Slayer chuckled as he was bee-lining right to the shields. Seeing the Corpse Lord jerking back despite her right leg crumbling and disintegrating. Her hands started to turn chalky from grabbing at the petrifying spots as she was trying to push herself upwards. Then to the side as she got caught by one of the harpoons through her body.

The war god grinned, seeing the first moments of fear. Out right shifting to walk soundlessly and stalking after, pushing the lich to the ends of her tethers before moving to grasp the hilt in both hands.

It very much did feel like overkill as the living weapon was driven into the shield. Sunwalker was hungry enough to start draining the power from those shields enough that they shattered under a new wave of bombardment from the Sentinels. An overcharged blast from Haco's current Ballista had him rocking back but it was just that too much fire to give the final cracking blow to the shield. The reddish-purple energy even hit the Corpse Lord, burning a deep groove into the petrifying flesh.

Slayer was already moving faster than likely any mortal would be easy to track. Running up onto the Corpse Lord's current body and swinging the Crucible and pushing his will. Felt the pull and hungry drain on Slayer's own power and soul, though unlike anyone else he willingly gave it to Sun Walker. There was no damage to himself as the living weapon let out a blast like surge of energy.

The Corpse Lord, for the first time in a very, very long time felt real pain in centuries. The backlash that came from the Crucible burning back to her other body. There was a double scream from the other body distantly, and the current one that was being bisected in half.

It was not a clean cut either.

Slayer drove the brightly glowing living weapon into the lich's middle. Jerking to his own left and down, burning and cutting through the hell growth and underlying, mixed demonic frame. Leaving a burning trail of char as it can free. Slayer shifted his stance on the moving body before swinging Sunwalker back up and to the right as the crucible pulsed a wave of stored power as it cut at the same time.

Unlike the Last Gift, who was mostly unaware of its stored power, Sunwalker knew it had a lot more stored in its core. Not the blade itself. It also knew that it's chosen wielder was wanting to make an example, or use that as an excuse to use an 'overkill' power. Sunwalker was happy to oblige as it tore through the Corpse Lord from hip to her shoulder despite the massive size of the body.

Slayer was still moving, following the upper part of the Corpse Lord's body, grabbing the edge of the maw in the chest with one hand. Flipping Sunwalker around in his hand, and much like before slamming the living blade into the core. Letting the Crucible actively feed on the lich's magic as she was attempting to disengage from this body.

Much like with the Last Gift, the older Crucible was draining energy before the body died. The Crucible aloud to just devour what it wanted, enough that the barriers failed. Only this time Slayer sensed something familiar. Like with the marauders that had a flicker of the leftover energy from the divinity machine in them.

Only in the lich?

What was she doing?

The demon made body gave a gargled sound before collapsing into itself in large chunks of death char and ash. For the second time the Corpse Lord dieing to a Crucible. Leaving behind the tyrant skull in the mess, no charms on it, the skull had just been used like a helmet. A few other demon bones that were ash stained, were also around, like ribs from the feral pinkies. Former trophies used to make that body?

The thought of Pinkies had Slayer swinging around. Grunting as the doors on the left side of the yard rattled without the barrier being held. He saw Haco and tossed an arm towered the other door, wanting him to go help clear out with Mila. Slayer turned his attention forward, shoving his will back at Sunwalker harshly hearing the chant of hunger in the back of his mind. Not letting the living blade even try to take over, and in turn starling it.

Asin was running those few steps ahead, Slayer definitely seeing the bleeding wound in the Sentinel's side. Then Asin was hitting one of the heavy doors with his shoulder, as if he was not aware of his own injury. Asin got the door open. Shoving it against a staggering demon beast that had been trying to push the door the wrong way.

Slayer hit his shoulder on the same door, helping shoving it the rest of the way. Having to angle Sunwalker to not hurt his Sentinel. His own strength had Asin staggering and barely keeping his feet. While the heavy door cracked as it slammed the demon into the wall behind it.

It was, in a term, a complete bloodbath on the other side. The three warriors had definitely been holding up the original reputation of the Night Sentinels. Charring bodies were stacked by being roughly shoved aside. The one of the two Shadowed was struggling half under a bigger than normal pinky brute, his left arm in the demon's mouth as the man was stabbing it through the eye in the side of the head.

Asin was moving to him, even as Slayer was launching himself at the other two, just catching the second shadow thrown with his free hand. Sliding them behind them, sensing another following as the new god focused on the Marauder that was farther back where the portal used to be. Everything was slowing just a bit as Slayer saw the traitor was using the left over metal frame of Zanin's own sword to slam down on the gore covered sentinel's back.

What ever happened in the fight here was partly unknown, but had resulted Zanin being shoved down to the stone pavers. The Marauder was mid motion of bring the warrior's own sword down on his back when the door slammed open. Turning partly at the roar of primordial rage that bellowed out behind him.

The Sunwalker was skewering through the Marauder's stomach two seconds after he had driven the broken blade down. Slayer was still roaring as he heard the yell from Zanin. Using all his strength to lift the much bigger marauder up and to the side, not even giving the Crucible the full chance to absorb the traitor's soul as he reached for the neck. Breaking bone and letting go to just start tearing apart the once man.

Breaking into the upper chest from behind and ripping the body into chucks while Sunwalker gave a startled pulse. The older Crucible dropped to the ground, just a bit insulted as the Marauder was dissolving into death ash and feeding the armor.

Slayer froze for a moment, wavering on his feet as he stared at the bloody, gory mess of one of his chosen Sentinels. A brother in arms that still had a flickering light of his wraith gift and soul- could he reach out? Should he take Zanin's soul? Would he even want to be-

Zanin gasped, jerking as he recovered from his moment of shock, trying to roll and snarled in a mix of pain and… annoyance?!

Slayer startled, jerking a step to the side. More than a little confused as he very clearly saw the armor on Zanin's back twisted from the broken sword sticking out at an angle. That was a killing blow. Why was the argenta snarling like he was scrapped-skinned?!

"A little help?!" Zanin snarled as he tried to get up, his left arm not wanting to work quite right.

Slayer moved forward, dropping down to his knees and pushed Zanin back down with a hand on his lower back. A confused rumble came out as the almost blinding rage was pushed aside for pure confusion. His right hand started to scrap and pull the gore off, and thick blood, finding that it really was not chunks from the man's back. Or sides. Or head. Or rump. The twisting armor was exposed better as the lights on Slayer's helmet turned on.

The broken sword had hit something even harder, even with the force from the Marauder's blow. It deflected to the side, scrapping the undersuit but not breaking the spine. Slayer grunted and extracted the twisted metal. Tossing it aside and saw…

The alloy disk.

One of the damned alloy disks that he had put down Zanin's back. It was a solid plate of the same metal the Praetor armor was made of. That metal having absorbed most of the force to store, now transferring the energy to the Praetor suit. Zanin's back would be completely bruised, painful and likely needing a healer's help, or Bastet.

Yet Zanin was alive and not being cut in half himself. Shaking from pain and all the effort of his fight possible one on one with a corrupted argenta and its horde.

But alive.

Slayer leaned over Zanin, grasping armor and starting to take off the damaged parts. Needing to get most of the back and chest plate off. The new god flexed his hands in the air over Zanin then moved the disk aside and found only light bleeding and some minor internal fractures as Vega was scrolling a report over his HUD.

"The Sentinels are clearing the last of the horde with Captain Mila." Vega's calm, steady voice spoke as Slayer was carefully moving his right arm under Zanin. Supporting the man fully as another Shadowed slid to the other side, not at all bothered by the death ash turning to mud with the demonic blood and gore. Wraith gift flared and was extended to start numbing Zanin's back until the experience healer came back out of hiding.

Slayer hummed, looking up and around, spotting Sunwalker still active and spilling red light where it was standing wedged between pavers. Then looked back into the yard space to see Vega's drones hoving and moving around. Distantly seeing the other door and the outline of the other group gathering back up. Spotting Mila by her outline and her energy ax.

"There is something very odd that happened with the third Marauder you should know, Slayer." Vega added, at the low grunt he continued. "I did not have audio without Captain Mila's helmet. I only had a visual from one of the Sentinels with her. He did not directly engage in fighting."

Slayer frowned in his helmet, looking back down at Zanin who was starting to catch his breath.

That was odd.

And possibly something to worry about.

"Hmph?"

"Captain Mila will likely have more details. They seemed to have talked briefly. I did see that the Marauder seemed larger than the other two, as well as having a chest plate that was made of, green, Gorgon crystal. Not unlike some of the demons that have been showing up."

Slayer scowled, brows dipping as he saw the Healer was coming over to his current group. Sliding in the gore and not so accidentally shunting aside the other man. Taking the spot and place seamlessly in a way the seemed practiced. Slayer was impressed but not quite able to tell if it was fully intentional.

He moved his left hand out of the way but still supported Zanin. Taking the chance to sign roughly for Vega to see. Where is?

"I was not able to get a drone dark to follow him." Vega admitted, "From the feed I could see he stepped behind the hell portal and used it as cover to get away about when you activated the Argenta Crucible." The colony AI admitted. "He might be in the next building, but judging from what I saw of his walking stride, the Marauder might be on his way to another section of the city."

The Slayer took a slow, deep breath, looking down. Not sure why a corrupted Marauder would not go after him personally with full, twisted honor. Gusto even.

"His back is not broken, Lord Slayer, but it will be if he's in another fight half this intense." The healer said, he looked up to meet the glowing green gaze. "I would rather he returned to Mother Bastet with a few others. They would be better healed and rested by morning proper that way. And get armor repaired."

The new war god nodded, agreeing with that as he shifted to lift Zanin and stand up. Supporting him until the taller man had his balance. Only then stooping to pick up the alloy coin, then his Crucible.

He looked around, then turned back to the healer as the living weapon was deactivated to be put on his back. The disk slipped into subspace as he turned back to the healer. Carefully signing so both him and Vega could see him. Get the others, bring here. We talk in the old store next level down.

"I'll get them able to go there, Lord Slayer."

"I will relay the order to Haco."