AN: I've been busy with a lot of things since the last chapter, but I did finally manage to sit down and finish this one.

Last Timeline, Elsie Bray POV…

"So this perk you want to give me… it will let me remember all the past loops?" I ask, not quite sure how to feel.

"No. I'm sure the Grimoire has retroactive memory sharpening, but I wasn't lucky enough to roll that, or cruel enough to subject you to so many memories of anguish. It will only ensure you remember everything from this point forward." Mavriel says, absentmindedly pushing away the Pouka that floated too close to him.

"Not very optimistic of you." I reply.

"Optimism isn't my strong suit. We just have to do our best to ensure you remember this timeline perfectly, in the event it all goes tits up." He responds clinically, sending the Pouka an annoyed look as it tries to cheer him up by flying patterns in front of his face.

"In case you die, you mean." I clarify.

"In case I die, yes. There's no guarantee I'd exist in any other timelines. Neither of us know precisely the method your time travelling functions on. I want you to have the best chance to succeed, even without me. I hoped to teach you some form of magic that would persist through the loops with this perk, but…" He stares out of the habitat we're huddled in, onto the icy expanse of Europa.

"Terrible luck, yes, you complain about it constantly." I needle him, hoping to draw out the conversation. He's been real quiet as of late.

"Yeah. But, at least you'll be able to retain your mastery of Stasis, in the event we fail. Gives you a headstart." He attempts to inject a bit of cheer into the statement, but it's half hearted at best.

"It will be nice to avoid reliving eons of trauma again, all to relearn Stasis, I'll admit. Go ahead then."

Present Timeline, Joxer POV:

I watch helplessly as Druis collapses to the ground, armor full of holes burned by void projectiles. The Acolytes were too much, even for her Void overshield. Her Ghost hovers frantically over her limp form, the light from its eye dimmed with panic as it struggles to bring her back.

The horde of Hive surges forward, their chittering shrieks echoing across the battlefield. I grit my teeth, my frame planted firmly in front of Druis's body to shield her Ghost from the advancing horde. My Sentinel Shield vibrates in my hand as I block incoming fire from multiple sides. Knew we should have brought a third to cover our backs.

Suddenly, two unnaturally large Nova Bombs detonate, obliterating the entire wave of enemies instantly.

The Speaker lands in a controlled crouch, his wings of golden flame dissipating as he stands. His spear glows faintly at his side. He doesn't say a word, just strides forward with purpose, his presence commanding.

Reaching Druis, he drops to one knee beside her. His hand slaps down on her chest, and he mutters an incantation under his breath. "Redire a morte."

Golden light surges from his hand, flowing into Druis' body. Her chest rises sharply as she gasps, her eyes snapping open. She's alive, though pale and visibly weakened. Not a normal resurrection.

Her Ghost, relieved, gets to work immediately, bathing her in healing Light and repairing the holes in her armor. Within moments, Druis is back on her feet, though still visibly shaken.

Mavriel stands, offering us a casual thumbs-up. "Keep up the good work." He says, his tone almost nonchalant, as if this was just another Tuesday for him. Hell, maybe it is.

Before I can respond, Mavriel disappears, his Void teleport leaving a faint ripple in the air.

Mavriel POV:

I swing a Hive Knight by its ankle, using its armored bulk like a living flail. The roar it lets out is more pathetic than threatening at this point. The crunch of bone and chitin as its head smashes into a group of Hive Wizards brings a brief smile to my face.

With my free hand, I gesture as the spell forms in my mind, and I cast it without uttering a word using the Sorcerous energy contained in my blood to weave the metamagic. Fireball explodes in the middle of a dense horde, bathing a large radius in a wave of heat. The Hive closest to the blast are reduced to nothing but ash, their cries swallowed by the roar of the flames.

"Esolc." I mutter, letting the battered Knight's lifeless body drop to the ground with a thud. A nearby portal sputters from my spell's power, A moment later, it flickers out of existence, leaving only the smoldering remains of its defenders behind.

My focus shifts to my back, where my spear waits. With but a thought and a spark of Magicka, it leaps into my outstretched hand, its weight familiar and comforting. I exhale, feeling the crackling energy of Pyro energy and Solar Light converge within the weapon. The spear becomes a blazing beacon, heat rippling off it in golden waves, the air around it shimmering from the sheer intensity.

My arm pulls back, then hurls the spear forward with all my might. It arcs high, leaving a fiery contrail against the dark lunar sky. I watch as it finds its mark, slamming into the ground near another Hive portal.

The explosion is instantaneous. A blinding shockwave erupts from the impact, devouring everything in its radius. Hive screech as they are consumed, their bodies turned to cinders. The portal at the epicenter collapses, unable to withstand the force of my attack.

For a moment, all is still.

Then, another portal tears open in the distance.

Instead of frustration, I feel something else; a familiar thrill. The Hive are nothing if not persistent, and persistence means opportunity. So many acceptable targets in one place. How often does that happen?

I roll my shoulders, muscles coiled with anticipation, when something tugs at my awareness. A Guardian's Light dims. They're down.

I reach for my spear and pull. The Void obeys, and in an instant, Vasavi Shakti is back in my grasp, the energy surrounding it still smoldering. Another pull, this time with my entire being, and I vanish, reappearing in a crack of displaced air where the Guardian fell.

An Ascendant Knight stands over the fallen Titan, its cleaver raised high. Glutted on the Sword Logic as it is, it actually has the metaphysical oomph to damage a Ghost. A single swing of its cleaver would shatter the Guardian's Ghost. Unacceptable.

My spear intercedes, catching the cleaver mid-swing. Sparks fly as divine steel grinds against hadium and chitin. My free hand thrusts forward, Void energy pooling at my fingertips before exploding outward in a concussive blast. The Knight stumbles back, but it doesn't fall. Instead, something shifts in the air around it, a Barrier forms, the reddish hue unmistakable.

A Nightmare infused Champion.

The energy coils around its limbs, strengthening it, mending wounds in mere seconds. A Barrier Knight.

Annoying.

My grip tightens, but I don't hesitate. Malfeasance is already in my other hand, the blighted hand cannon thrumming with anticipation. I channel Solar Light through my fingers, pouring it into the weapon until it's Radiant.

Boom. The first shot pierces through the Barrier, a crack forming in its surface.

Boom. The second widens the crack into a fracture.

Boom. The third shatters the shield entirely, leaving the Knight vulnerable.

Two more shots follow in rapid succession. The explosive slugs embedded into its body detonate, chain reactions ripping through its armor and sending chunks of chitin and scorched flesh flying.

It staggers, barely holding itself together.

I lunge.

Vasavi Shakti meets its throat, flames licking across its body as I drive the spear deep. A final burst of Solar Light erupts from the wound, consuming it from the inside out. The Knight disintegrates, leaving nothing but charred remains.

I kneel beside the downed Guardian's Ghost, heat still radiating off my spear. A pulse of Light flows from my hand. The Ghost flickers, then stabilizes, its frame glowing as it channels the energy into its Guardian.

The Titan gasps, his breath ragged as he is pulled back from death. He looks up at me, dazed but alive. Looks like a New Light, eager to prove himself. Probably thought he could go it alone.

{Dark Timeline Excerpt #1 +100 points
Discovered 'The Moon' +100 points
Achieved Level 6 Sorcerer +50 points
Achieved Level 7 Sorcerer +50 points
Dark Timeline Excerpt #2 +100 points

Rolling…

Benevolence - Beyond The End of Time - Loki (200 points)

Roll Success. Current stockpile: 400 Points.

Purchase Beyond The End of Time?}

Being outside of the conventional flow of time has had some interesting effects, whether it's due to coming from an entirely different time-space continuum or living after the 'end' of time. Specifically, you and your possessions are completely immune to any sort of temporal effects that you don't want to be affected by. While others might be trapped in loops, shunted through time or have their age altered, such efforts are entirely ineffective against you or your possessions.

This perk will be incredibly useful when I inevitably end up fighting the Vex.

Yoink.

"Stack up with the others." I order the Titan, my tone leaving no room for argument. "It's dangerous to go alone."

Before he can respond, I'm already gone.

Crow POV:

Lightning crackles at my fingertips as Sora and I sprint through the shattered remains of the Hive's frontlines, the Scarlet Keep looming ahead. The air hums with malignant energy, the oppressive weight of Darkness pressing against my Light. The Hive aren't just defending their territory; they're preparing for something massive. Whatever ritual they're conducting at the top of the Keep, we have to stop it.

"Crow, on your left." Sora calls.

I pivot, snap up Hawkmoon, and fire. The Solar charged round slams into the face of a Thrall mid-leap, sending it sprawling lifelessly across the cracked lunar ground. Sora moves like a force of nature beside me, her hand cannon spitting Solar fire as she twists between incoming attacks with deadly grace. A Hive Knight rushes toward her, its massive cleaver raised high. Without breaking stride, she holsters her weapon and draws a gleaming sword of Reef make, slashing the blade to unleash a blast of Void, atomizing the Knight.

Then, from up ahead, an ear-splitting roar shakes the ground.

"Another Ogre?" I mutter, already pulling Light into my hands to call the storm once more.

But as we crest the next rise, we find the monstrous creature already engaged.

Osiris stands in the middle of a ruined courtyard, his feathered armor gleaming against the sickly green glow of Hive architecture. He moves with calculated grace, weaving through the Ogre's thrashing strikes. His hands flicker with fiery Light, and with a single, decisive motion, he brings a burning blade into existence. The blade extends, crackling with Solar energy, before he slashes forward in an arc of golden fire. The Ogre's bellow turns into a wet, gurgling sound as the flames carve deep into its thick hide. One final burst of kinetic Light erupts from Osiris' palm, and the Ogre collapses, twitching in its death throes.

I hear him sigh as he banishes the blade.

"Eris, I am perfectly aware of the risk-" Osiris says, exasperation evident in his voice. He's speaking over comms, though I can't hear the other side of the conversation.

"Osiris?" Sora calls.

Osiris turns, expression unreadable until his eyes land on Sora.

His posture straightens slightly, his brows lifting in recognition. "Ah. I was wondering when I'd run into you again."

Sora crosses the distance in a few quick strides. "Osiris, what are you doing here?"

Osiris huffs. "I was searching for something."

"Hold on." I say, stepping closer. "You're telling me you just happened to be here while the Hive are pulling whatever stunt this is?"

"No coincidence." a new voice crackles through comms, one Glint helpfully labels in my helmet's HUD as Eris Morn. "Osiris' latest excursion into the Moon's depths stirred something beneath the Keep… Drawing eyes to the very vessel we sought."

"Meaning-" Osiris interupts, folding his arms, "-That the Hive have been throwing themselves at us ever since."

I exchange a look with Sora. Cryptic.

"We need to move quickly." Sora insists. "The ritual they're conducting; Mav thinks it's the source of the Darkness Zone."

Osiris tilts his head. "A logical assumption. The Scarlet Keep was constructed to amplify Hive sorcery. If they're reinforcing their own power here, it makes sense they'd fortify against their foes greatest advantage."

"Can you get us up there?" I ask. "Because so far, the direct approach is just a slog through endless Hive."

Osiris gives me a dry look. "Do you think I would be caught trudging through enemy hordes like a common foot soldier if I had an alternative?" He gestures behind him, to a passage lined with broken pillars and half-collapsed structures. "There is another way. Less direct, but it will take us to the elevator leading to the summit with minimal resistance."

"I like the sound of that." I say.

Osiris is already moving forward.

Sora and I follow, staying close as we navigate through the crumbling architecture. The deeper we go, the more the air pulses with Hive energy. Green runes flicker along the walls, their symbols shifting unnaturally, as if alive.

Eris' voice returns. "You must be cautious. The ritual taking place above, its effects are spreading further. The Hive are manifesting abilities never before seen to combat their invaders."

"Can't be much worse than what they already do." I mutter, shaking off the sensation crawling up my spine.

A sudden screech cuts through the air as a swarm of Thrall spill from an opening ahead, their voices filled with mindless fury.

Osiris barely acknowledges them before raising a hand, golden flames forming in the air before him. A wave of Solar energy surges outward, disintegrating the first few in an instant. Sora is already moving, Shadowshot bow forming in her grasp. She looses two arrows into the mass of enemies, the tethered Void energy locking them in place.

I lift Hawkmoon and fire, each shot precise, each impact sending ripples of Void Light through the captured enemies. They drop.

Osiris watches, nodding approvingly. "Efficient."

"Less talking, more moving." Sora says, already heading toward the passage beyond the carnage.

The elevator platform jolts as it lurches upward, groaning under the strain as Sora's Ghost hacks the magical mechanism… somehow. The ascent is slow- too slow- and every Guardian aboard knows exactly what that means.

"They're going to send everything they have at us." Osiris mutters, checking his weapon, a scout rifle of some sort. His armor catches the sickly glow of the keep's interior, casting strange reflections.

"Good." Sora replies, spinning her hand cannon before holstering it. "Maybe it'll actually be a challenge."

I exhale, steadying myself as I feel the tension coil in the air. The first sign of attack is a piercing screech from above, followed by a barrage of violet energy bolts raining down from balconies lining the elevator shaft.

"Take cover!" I yell, diving behind one of the stone pillars embedded in the platform's edge. I return fire with Hawkmoon, my rounds punching through Hive chitin with explosive force despite the distance.

Sora is already moving, weaving between pillars and dropping Acolytes with precise shots from her own hand cannon. The air ignites around her as Solar Light flares from her fingertips, and with a flick of her wrist, a grenade sends a wave of flame along a balcony, forcing the Hive back.

Osiris stands in the center of the platform, undeterred by the incoming fire. With a single gesture, he summons a massive rift of energy, the air distorting as its protective aura shields us. His other hand conjures a swarm of golden projectiles, and with a sweeping motion, he hurls them toward the balconies. The flame bolts carve through the Hive, sending their burning forms plummeting into the abyss below.

"More incoming!" I warn, watching as Thrall begin to flood onto the platform from all sides, their grotesque forms clawing over the edges. The first few reach me fast, but Arc lightning crackles around my fingers as I raise my hands, and with a shout, a storm erupts from his palms. The electrified wave surges forward, vaporizing the incoming Thrall and chaining further into the horde.

Sora follows up by tossing a grenade that detonates in a fiery explosion, incinerating the remaining stragglers. Before she can celebrate, a deep rumbling shakes the platform.

"Something big is coming." Osiris notes, his voice eerily calm.

The next moment, a Hive Ogre drops from above, landing on the platform with a bone-rattling crash. Its malformed body thrums with reddish energy, its single eye burning like a dying star.

I grimace. "I hate these things."

The Ogre rears back, its chest expanding as it takes in a breath before unleashing a devastating beam of energy. We scatter as the attack rips across the platform, melting stone in its path.

Sora moves first, her body flickering with Void Light as she draws her bow. A Shadowshot arrow streaks through the air, embedding itself into the Ogre's massive torso. Tendrils of Void energy lash out, tethering the beast in place, but not slowing it at all.

"Now!" She shouts.

Osiris doesn't hesitate. He channels his Light, leaping forward as Solar energy surges through his body. His Radiance crackles to life, and with a roar, he releases a torrent of flame directly into the Ogre's chest. The creature writhes, its roar of agony shaking the platform as the flames ignite into an explosion, the reddish energy suffusing its body receding.

Osiris vanishes in a flash of flame, reappearing atop the Ogre's back along with two golden copies of himself. With calculated precision, he channels Solar energy into his palm, forming a radiant blade before plunging it into the beast's skull, the transparent clones severing the beasts arms with their own conjured Dawnblades. The Ogre lets out one final, ear-splitting wail before collapsing, its massive form dissolving into embers.

A moment of silence follows, save for the distant sounds of Hive chittering above. The elevator continues its slow ascent.

Eris's voice crackles over comms. "You're approaching the summit. I can feel it… The deaths of thousands of Hive, all drawn to the summit. The ritual is nearing completion…"

Osiris frowns. "We need to move faster."

The moment he says it, the platform shudders violently. Above us, the structure of the keep begins to groan, Hive glyphs pulsing with ominous energy. A deep, guttural chant echoes down the shaft, and the elevator halts its ascent. A wave of blackened magic washes down the shaft, harmlessly passing through us.

"Eris, what was that?" Osiris demands.

"No… It should not be possible! The King is dead!"

"Blasphemy!"

A guttural voice, full of hatred, echoes down the shaft. The whistle of a blade cleaving flesh sounds, and the oppressive feeling of the Light being choked lessens, but only slightly. After several seconds, the head of a high ranking Hive Wizard clatters onto the platform in front of us. The one we were coming to kill.

"How far Crota's spawn fell, to deny the All-Edged Truth... Lightbearers! Come! Make right the heresy of my bloodline!"

The elevator jolts, rising once more.

Sora's fist tightens, the hand cannon in her grip creaking. "Why did it have to be him?"

"Sora, you know who's waiting for us?" I ask, concerned.

"Oryx." She whispers.

"I can feel you… Successor. Reenact your triumph! Slay this pathetic shadow binding my essence, and take up your rightful place!"

CHAPTER 25 END

AN: Technically, it shouldn't be possible to bring Oryx back as a Nightmare. At best, he would be a mindless shadow of The Taken King, incapable of anything but violence. But thanks to the machinations of the Witch Queen, a certain Weapon of Sorrow passed into Hashladûn's hands. All according to plan.

Mavriel can now no-sell time shenanigans. Deep in a timelost vault, Praedyth weeps in envy.