Welcome back, you absolute degenerates. Today is the time for pain and suffering. We also have a new chapter, but that's unrelated. This will be the final exorcism mission, so we'll be wrapping up the bulk of the Season 15 plot. There will be a few more things to go through before we get to Witch Queen, though, so stay tuned.

If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hate it, feel free to leave a review that signals an epic battle between the forces of good and evil that will determine the fate of the world for generations to come.

Chapter 22: The Ritual

"Where is your truth now?" - Savathûn, the Witch Queen

"Alright, just breathe and focus," King instructed. Amity took a deep breath, tightening her fists until her knuckles were white. The air between the two was cold, primarily due to the Dark power leaking from King. A small pyramid-like splinter was pinched between his claws, appearing comically small in his hand. "To wield Stasis, you must be stubborn and uncompromising." Frost swirled around his hand, beckoned by unseen winds. The frigid power formed into a gauntlet that slowly inched toward his elbow. Amity watched as sunlight refracted off the sapphire crystals. King clenched his fist, shattering the armor.

"Fortunately, being stubborn shouldn't be a problem for you," King said. He offered her the splinter. A chill went through Amity's bones as her fingers grazed the prism. "This conduit helps me to commune with the Darkness. Should help you form a link, but you won't need it permanently."

"Where did you get this?" Amity asked, passing the trinket over in her hands. She had studied the esoteric technology of the Pyramids later in her life. Despite her best efforts, the secrets of their inner workings still eluded her after all these years. King's gaze fell to the ground.

"The Collector used it to teach me," he said, his deep voice rumbling with regret. Amity pursed her lips, understanding what went unsaid. King cleared his throat and gestured for her to begin.

Amity turned away from him and closed her eyes. She searched within herself, trying to find the source of the splinters chill. Then, a lance of ice sprouted within her. Amity shuddered, her breath growing shaky as she doubled over. Her breath, a cloud of chilled vapor, hung in the air. King watched, making no move to intervene. Amity's skin began to frost over as the Darkness dug its claws into her.

She forced her breathing to slow as she fought back against Stasis. The crystals continued their inexorable crawl over her body. She tried to force it to stop, to yield to her. It refused to comply. Panic gripped her heart as it began to freeze over. The Darkness preyed upon her mind. All she could remember was that day so long ago when they had stormed the Pyramid. She remembered the imposing aura grating against her resolve, the winding halls that bent and twisted in an effort to distort her perception of space and distance, and, most of all, the overwhelming power of the Collector. She could feel the weight of his presence crash into her mind, threatening to unravel her body at the seams. With a start, she realized that her left arm had been entirely overtaken and was frozen solid.

King finally intervened, swiping the splinter from Amity's hand. In an instant, the all-consuming cold vanished. The ice coating her body faded into nothing, and she dropped to one knee. She held her left hand up to her face, slowly closing and opening her fingers as though she didn't believe it was unfrozen.

"I haven't seen that reaction before," King muttered. "Though I don't have much experience to go off."

"Let me have it," Amity said. When King seemed confused, she spoke more aggressively. "I want to try again!"

"Easy," King said, holding out a claw. "Take a second and breathe." Amity almost went to snatch the splinter, only to catch herself. A touch of Darkness still clung to her mind, clouding her judgment in a foggy haze.

"Sorry, I… I don't know what came over me."

"Such is the power of the Darkness," King said. "I've had to struggle with a few… outbursts like that myself. Stasis is powerful, but it has its own agenda. It seeks to overpower you. You must shut it out. To do so requires a firm will and a focused mind."

"Well, that explains it," Amity said, more than a little frustrated. "I'm just a little ball of anxiety right now. Kinda hard to focus on anything, especially considering what happened with-"

"We're not talking about Luz," King asserted. "This isn't about her, it's about you."

"You're right." Amity sighed. "Maybe we should take a break. Give me time to process things before mastering a whole new skill."

"Is there something else you want to do?" King asked. Amity thought for a moment before shrugging.

"Maybe hone some old skills," she said. "My magic still feels off."

"Well, you are a few hundred years out of practice," King quipped. "Alas, I won't be of much help in that regard."

Amity pursed her lips as she wondered what to do next. As she did, a thought crept into her mind, reminding her of an unexplored avenue. "What about Carolyn? Venator said she might be able to help me out with that."

Rubbing his chin in thought, King gave a nod. "She's the Captain of the Sentries for a reason. I think she's off duty today, so you won't find her on base."

"Well, where can I find her?" Amity asked.

Within the Dreaming City, Royal sat on the steps leading to a colossal monastery. Deep within the heart of the structure, Queen Mara and her newly reassembled coven were preparing the ritual to exorcize the dreaded Hive God of her worm.

To say that Royal was nervous was an understatement. Everything hinged on the coming moments. Either the ritual would succeed, and he would have vengeance for all of Savathûn's wrongs, or Xivu Arath would lay waste to the Reef and drag her sister before whatever master she served, potentially spelling untold doom for Sol. To calm himself in the face of the gathering storm, he was tending to Lament. His grindstone worked slowly, raising a dull scraping sound as he individually moved over each of his sword's teeth. The repetitive motions gave him something to focus on. It grounded him.

He looked up at the sound of a jumpship passing overhead. Luz transmatted in beside him, hand cannon firmly attached to her back. She gave a slight nod as he greeted her.

"You have to manually sharpen each tooth?" She asked, looking at his sword with a quizzical yet goofy grin. "Seems like poor design."

Royal gave an indifferent shrug, finding he had no appetite for banter. Luz noticed and sobered up, taking a seat beside him.

"The Blind Well is fully defended," she said. "Between Malek and the Corsairs, the Hive will have a hard time breaking through."

"Any further word from Petra?" Royal asked. Luz shook her head.

"Her previous orders still stand; we're the reserves. If anything gets past the Well, we stop it from reaching Savathûn."

Royal frowned at that comment; he hated being forced to sit out the fight while others were bleeding. But Petra's decision was tactically sound, and she was in charge of coordinating the defenses. Still, the waiting was unbearable. Glancing to the side, he could see Luz fidgeting nervously.

"Just try to relax," he said. "The calm before the battle is always rough."

"But then the actual battle isn't too bad, right?" She asked. Royal shook his head.

"I didn't say that. This may be the most important battle you will ever see in this life. Remember what I've taught you, and you'll be fine."

"Not really one for motivational speeches, are you?" Luz asked.

"That was always more Paladin's thing," Royal admitted. Behind him, the doors to the monastery opened, and dozens of Corsairs spilled out with Petra right behind them. They took up defensive positions around the entrance as Petra barked orders. A few Titans joined the Corsairs, mounting heavy weapons and raising barricades.

"I'm surprised Amity isn't here," Royal said. "I thought she would be interested in seeing this through."

"That's probably my fault," Luz said, rubbing her arm. When Royal raised a metal eyebrow, she hastily began to explain. "It was shortly after Phillip was brought into the ranks. You can probably guess what she thought."

"She wasn't taking it well?" Royal asked, already knowing the answer. When Luz nodded, he sighed. "I assume there was an argument?"

"She was saying all these horrible things," Luz said. "It wasn't directed at me, but I couldn't help but feel like she's still upset about everything that's changed. She wants everything to go back to how it was, but she doesn't seem to realize that's impossible. So I got angry and said some hurtful things."

"I can't say you're wrong," Royal said. "Amity… there is a reason the Vanguard forbids Guardians from pursuing their past. In truth, losing our memories is a blessing. The Traveler washes us clean. It does not matter who we were before; we are all forged equal in the Light. Amity, and you, to an extent, sought to circumvent the Travelers will."

"You make it sound like she's a heretic," Luz said.

Royal shrugged. "I do feel bad for her, but she has to work through this herself." As they spoke, the Corsairs finished setting up their defenses. The once beautiful monastery was now scarred with barricades, gun encampments, and traps. Petra cast an appraising eye over the fortifications before giving an approving nod and turning to the Warlocks.

"You two, inside with me." She beckoned over the shoulder before spinning on her heels and marching back inside. Royal and Luz quickly followed. A pair of Corsairs barricaded it behind them as they passed through the gargantuan doors. More defenses had been erected in the hallway leading to Savathûn.

The chamber housing the Witch Queen was a massive, multi-layered auditorium. Two sweeping sets of stairs wrapped along the outskirts of the room, leading to an upper balcony that housed Savathûn's prison, Queen Mara, her coven, Saint, and Iris. Yet more Corsairs and Guardians had prepared themselves, leveling hundreds of guns at the main entrance. Petra's chest swelled slightly in pride at this display of Awoken might.

"We're waiting for the last reinforcements to arrive," she told Royal. "I hope these Witches are as competent as you claim them to be."

"They'll more than earn their keep," Royal asserted. "Have faith; today, we all bleed together."

Offering an unconvinced hum, Petra turned away and activated her radio. Her eyes focused on the floor as she received a transmission neither Warlock could hear. "Understood, give them clearance and guide them in." Disabling her radio, she turned back to the Warlocks. "I pray you're right because they've just arrived."

There was a ripple as a caped figure transmatted into the room. Venator stretched her servos as she drew to her full height. A dozen Sentries and a pair of Abomatons appeared behind her. The Witches appeared to be attempting to fight off waves of nausea, each with varying levels of success.

"Alright, you slackers, get to work," Venator said. "You know what to do. Squad A move up with the Titans and start reinforcing the walls. Squad B, take the Automatons to the center and start trapping the place. Squad C, stick to the outskirts and focus on the biggest targets." The Witches pulled themselves together and dispersed, moving to assist the defenders. Venator nodded as they did and turned to Petra and her brother.

"Oh, hello there," she said coyly, giving Petra a quick look up and down. Blip appeared beside her.

"Remember what happened last time," he whispered. Venator nodded and checked herself.

"We're here to assist however we can," she said.

"Is this all Paladin could spare?" Royal asked. Venator frowned, clearly unhappy with it as well.

"It's all Lydia would allow him to spare," she said. "Fortunately, they've been trained on how to deal with Hive. Well, as much training as we could cram into such short notice. Fortunately, 'sit behind cover and shoot the bastards' isn't hard to grasp, and the Vex have given them plenty of experience."

"Whatever help you can offer will be appreciated," Petra said. Above them, Mara approached the balcony overlooking the room and gestured for Petra to join her. Petra quickly made her way up the stairs to be beside her Queen. Royal, Luz, and Venator followed as well, standing beside Iris.

"My, aren't you a cutie," Venator said, eyeing up Iris while Mara whispered something to Petra. Royal couldn't help but groan internally at his sister's antics. It didn't help that Venator, much like Royal, absolutely towered over the rather diminutive Young Wolf. "Say, how about after we send the Hive running, you and I get some celebratory drinks."

"Not interested," Iris replied tersely, pointedly not looking at Venator.

"If you say so," Venator said. "There's no need to be so short with me, babe. I-" Whatever words were about to come out of Venators mouth were quickly cut off when Iris drew one of her swords and rammed it through Venator's chest. The Hunter staggered slightly as she looked down at the hilt protruding from her stomach.

"Don't. Call. Me. Short," Iris hissed.

"Noted," Venator said casually before pointing to the sword. "You gonna want this back, or can I keep it?" Iris yanked it out and returned it to the sheath on her back. Royal rolled his optics, and Luz giggled while Venator stuck a finger in her newest hole. "Not the worst rejection I've received." Luz was about to inquire for more details, but the query fell by the wayside when Mara stepped closer to the balcony.

"Xivu Arath's forces have engaged our defenses at the Blind Well," she said. Her voice was its usual measured tone, yet it carried throughout the entire chamber. The Techeuns spread out around Savathûn, spreading their hands as they prepared to begin the ritual.

"All we require is time," Mara continued. "As much as you can buy us. Xivu Arath has put countless worlds to the torch in the name of her All-Edged Truth. But on this day, she has made an enemy of the Reef. Xivu Arath shall have no death save for that of her own followers. She shall have no victory save for fleeting glimpses of that which we snatch away from her. She shall have nothing but failure and defeat this day. Such is my will."

A cheer went up from the Corsairs. The Guardians present banged their rifles against their armor in a war chant. The Witches raised their staves and sidearms, eager for their first real battle in Sol.

"Such a noble sentiment," Savathûn said. "But my sister is unshakeably tenacious, and speeches are ultimately hollow. When her forces arrive, they shall drag you into the Deep. And that is where you will discover yourselves."

"The Hive only respects strength," Royal said, crossing his arms. "Let us show both of their wretched gods that we have it in ample supply." Savathûn had a good laugh at that, which only furthered Royal's ire. How he longed for the moment the ritual was complete, and he would be free to liberate her head from her shoulders. He would savor that moment for a long time.

Mara's eyes began to gleam with power. Mystical Awoken energies flowed into her hands before leaping to the Techeuns closest to her. The power spilled between each of the robed women until Savathûn was fully encircled.

Venator drew her hand cannon and gave a few final orders to her troops. Iris remained at the lip of the balcony, appearing unusually stoic. Royal and Luz shared a look, then a nod. There was nothing left to do now but wait.

Amity looked up at the front door of the place King had sent her. Much like the rest of Bonesborough, she didn't recognize the place. It was a two-story building on the side of the main road. All things considered, it was remarkably quaint.

Hesitantly, she reached out and knocked on the door. She could hear the muffled sounds of someone shouting that they were on their way, so she stepped back. She took a few measured breaths as the doorknob clicked and slid open.

Standing before her was a rather lanky male Witch with a short nest of orange hair atop his head. A crooked pair of glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and a few shallow marks could be seen on his cheeks. A specially carved staff rested under his shoulder, allowing him to support his weight without using his left leg, which ended just below his knee.

"Hello, welcome to the Clawthrone house. If you're looking for a Palisman commission, you'll need to head to our office during work hours." He squinted before adjusting the glasses on his nose. "Wait, you're one of those Guardians, aren't you?"

"I am," Amity said as Ghost leaped onto her shoulder and began licking her paw. "And I'm not interested in a commission. I was hoping to speak with Carolyn if she's in now." The man's eyes briefly darted to Ghost as he listened. It seemed like he was trying to remember where he had seen her face.

"Yeah, she's upstairs." He leaned back into the building and shouted up the stairs. "Sis! You have a guest!" There was a muffled reply that Amity couldn't quite make out. The man pursed his lips and shot another glance at Amity. "She's one of those Guardians you've been working with, says she wants to talk to you!" There was the sound of someone walking upstairs, and the man gestured for her to come in.

He led her down the hall to the living room, passing rows of photos containing people Amity didn't recognize. However, she could see the distinctive Clawthrone traits over the generations, specifically the hair; it should not have been possible for so many people to have such similar hair for so long.

"Please, have a seat," the man said as they reached the living room. Amity complied, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in her armor. She made a mental note to pick up some actual clothes when possible.

"Would you like anything to drink?" The man asked. Amity quickly declined, not wanting him to exert himself for her sake. Instead, he sat across from her, holding his staff at his side. "I just realized I never caught your name. I feel like I should know it, but it just ain't coming to me."

"I'm Amity Blight," she said, setting a hand on her chest. "Or Amity Noceda, whichever stuck around." The man's eyes lit up with realization, and a grin broke onto his face.

"I knew I recognized you from somewhere," he said. His right hand extended toward her, and she gladly shook it. "Names Amar Clawthorne, the current head of Clawthorne and Co Carving. Best Palismen carvers in the business." He puffed out his chest a little with that remark, clearly taking some measure of pride in the title.

As he spoke, Amity heard the sound of someone coming downstairs. Looking back down the hall, she could see Carolyn fastening the final buttons on her shirt as she walked toward the living room. A glowing oracle gem was fastened securely at her collar. Even when she was off duty, it seemed the Captain couldn't help but dress formally.

She nodded toward her brother as she entered the room before an eyebrow crept up her forehead at the sight of Amity. "Oh, hey. I wasn't expecting guests today. Did Paladin send you for something?" There was a slightly eager tone in her voice, as though she couldn't wait to return to work. For unknown reasons, Amar suppressed a snicker.

"No, I'm here for personal reasons," Amity said. "Though I wasn't aware you got time off."

Carolyn groaned and leaned back into her chair. "I don't. Or I'm not supposed to, anyway. Lydia gave us all a bunch of mandatory leave. Something about budget constraints and shifting resource allocation. The Commander's left managing a skeleton crew. Believe me, I wish I was back on base. Commander's an old man; he needs the help."

Amar shot a sly grin at his sister. "Yeah, I'm sure that's the only reason you want to be back." Carolyn glared at him, the tips of her ears now tinged red. Amar leaned toward Amity, that wry smirk still plastered on his face.

"My little sister here had a bit of a crush on the Commander when she first signed on," he said. "Something about his buns of steel-"

"I told you that in confidence!" Carolyn interrupted, her cheeks now thoroughly dusted red. She cleared her throat and sharply looked away. "Besides, it's not like anything came of it. We have a healthy, professional working relationship."

Amity suppressed a laugh at the admittedly mildly amusing image before something Carolyn had said caught her attention. "I didn't know Lydia had the power to force you off duty."

"It's just one of the hundreds of little bits of oversight the government has granted itself over the years," Carolyn said. "Of course, she'll never mention that the reason our budget is so tight is because she keeps trimming it everywhere she can. And, naturally, the legislative is too weak-spined to do anything about it. If we swapped jobs for five minutes, people might actually be able to go about their lives in peace without the government butting in. But then we'd all be overrun by Vex before the hour was out, so it doesn't really matter."

Amity just nodded blankly; she'd never paid any mind to the day-to-day politics of the Isles. Amar simply sighed with exhaustion.

"Yeah, we try not to talk about politics here," he said. "Just gets people worked up, and nobody goes home happy."

"Sorry," Carolyn muttered. "Working in the Sentires just gives you a first-hand showcase of how incompetent the whole system is. At least Paladin managed to get those satellite things and radio whatnots he was talking about up and running. But that's not important. What brings you here?"

"I was hoping you could help me work through some roadblocks I've been having with my magic," Amity said. "It feels like there's something stopping me from tapping into it. Like I've gone backward. It used to be instinct."

Carolyn nodded, holding a hand over her mouth. "We've noticed some similar issues with the other Witch-Guardians. According to the Sentry records, Light and magic don't really get along. Results have been… explosive. You'll just have to keep practicing if you're trying to get back to your previous skill level. Probably doubly sucks for you, but what can you do about it?"

"When you say explosive, what exactly does that entail?" Amity asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Boscha tried to pour Solar Light into her fire spell a few days ago," Carolyn deadpanned. "One second, she was just standing there; the next second, we were scraping bits of her off the wall." Amity couldn't prevent a brief snort from escaping her lips.

"Sounds like an interesting experience," she said.

"Look, I've seen a lot of fucked up shit in my service," Carolyn said. "Watching a woman turn into a bloody water balloon easily breaks into the top three."

After exchanging some more small talk, Amity bid farewell to the two and departed with an idea forming in her mind. She had been a pioneer in life, and throwing herself into a new problem was the perfect way to distract herself from recent matters.

"Petra, come in," Malek said into the comm line. The feed was occasionally broken by bursts of static, and his voice was tinged with pain. "The Hive have broken through our defenses. The Well is overrun. Their main force is coming straight for Savathûn. We're thinning the tide as much as we can, but the rest is on you."

"Understood, Kingslayer," Petra said. "We shall hold the line here." Petra killed the feed as Malek roared a battle cry and looked out over the arena. Their defenses were all in place, reinforced by the Construction magic of the Witches. Heavy weapons rested atop barricades, their operators anxiously waiting for the enemy to present themselves. Luz crouched at the top of one set of stairs, lightning rolling over her fingers. Iris stood beside her like a statue as she watched the door. Royal and Venator were guarding the top of the other flight of stairs. The Hunter flipped her knife through the air while Royal appeared to be in a meditative trance.

The room was silent, save for the hum of Mara's spell. Even Savathûn had nothing to say, hiding her worry behind a veneer of silence. How ironic that she should spend so many years tormenting the remnants of Humanity, only to be forced to rely upon them for her protection.

There was the muffled echo of artillery as the Hive reached their outer defenses. The walls of the monastery shook from the impact, raining dust upon the defenders. Time stopped as everyone held their breaths. Royal finished sending his prayer to the Traveler and hefted his sword. Venator sheathed her knife and drew an almost comedically large bow. She notched an arrow thicker than Luz's spine onto the string, though it resembled a bike chain more closely than any string.

The sounds of gunfire grew closer, grating everyone's nerves like knives against bone. There were distant shouts as the line of defense before them encountered the Hive assault. Explosions rattled the ancient gleaming halls. Sculptures of ancient Awoken heroes gazed down at the defenders with eyes of marble, unaware that they would soon be marred by the gouges of blades and bullets.

"Stay behind me, Your Majesty," Saint said, stepping forward and rolling his shoulders. "I shall be your shield." He thrust his hands to the side, projecting a colossal Ward of Dawn that enveloped Mara, her Techeuns, and Savathûn. The Queen nodded and redoubled her efforts. The crystal of Savathûn's prison glowed with power. The magic imbued within it was so potent that it could practically be tasted.

An ear-splitting crash shook the main doors. They bent under the assault, deformed by the weight of whatever had slammed into it. Despite herself, Luz squirmed uneasily. The doors began to shatter, yielding to a colossal fist bound in chains that were soaked in Hive runes. The roars of a bloated, malformed Ogre blasted her eardrums, forcing her to wince and cover her ears to block out the sound. The rest of the defenders were similarly incapacitated, with those closest too stunned to avoid the sharp remnants of the door flying off its hinges as the Ogre bashed its way through. The Ogre attempted to charge, only to be held back by hooks digging into its flesh. Kelgorath stood on the other end, keeping the beast in check.

The gargantuan Hive Knight had changed since the last time Luz saw him. His armor appeared thicker, and his axe glistened with ghostly green fire. With a snarl, he leveled his axe on the bound form of Savathûn.

"Kill the heretic in the name of War almighty!" With a scream, hundreds of lesser Hive rushed past him. Waves of Thrall fell upon the defenders. Most were torn to shreds by gunfire, but enough slipped through and sank their claws in the Corsairs. A few Guardians rushed to meet the waves of Thrall, swiftly dispatching them. Acolytes rained fire on them, firing shredders and soulfire rifles. One Hunter went down; a hole burned through his chest by an Acolytes grenade. Luz swiftly avenged him with a shot through the Acolyte's brain.

A Knight attempted to rush into the fray, only to be forced to raise its shield as an Abomaton unleashed a jet of fire. The second magical construct stepped forward, forming a giant hammer with its hands. The automata unleashed hell upon the writhing hordes of Hive. The Sentries were just a little behind, slinging spells into the alien menace. Xivu Arath's forces, having not encountered anything quite like this, were left unprepared.

The Hive lines continued to push forward, gradually overtaking the defenses through the sheer weight of numbers. An isolated Guardian was drowned in a tide of Thrall, vanishing from sight and being torn apart. A half-dozen Corsairs were wiped out by concentrated fire from Hive Knights. A few Witches were trapped by Hive Wizards and swiftly overpowered.

Slowly, the defenders were pushed back to the base of the stairs. Luz fired volleys of bullets and lightning bolts in equal quantities. Iris wasn't far behind, her hand cannon singing as she moved to the front of the defenses. Off to the side, Royal cleaved through waves of Hive. Lament's engine screamed as it parted their chitin. Venator wove in and out of the shadows, blasting Hive apart with Malfeasance.

One Knight pushed past the main line and charged up the stairs. With its ossific sword, it split a Corsair in half. The Awoken woman went down without so much as a scream. The Knight glared at Luz with his three eyes and bared his ridged teeth. Luz was quickly put on the defensive as the Knight swiped at her head. She narrowly dodged a few swipes and jabs, peppering the Knight's organic armor with bursts of static energy.

The Knight growled as she dodged an overhead swing. It quickly pulled its weapon back up, slamming the pommel into her helmet. Luz's vision flashed, and the impact left her ears ringing. The Knight brought his sword down on her, and Luz reflexively thrust her hands outward. Stasis energy shot forth, coating the Knight in a sapphire veneer. The blade was frozen mere inches from her face. Luz let out an unsteady breath and fired a single bullet into the Knight's chest, shattering it.

Luz regained her bearings and looked over the fray. The sound of guns, blades, and spells drowned out all thought. The stench of blood and charred flesh choked the air, flooding Luz's lungs with that acrid tang. Still standing in the shattered remnants of the doorway, Kelgorath simply watched. He held the Ogres chains in a death grip despite how much the Ogre strained against its restraints. He seemed to meet Luz's gaze and relinquished the chains in a second that seemed to stretch for minutes. The metal binds fell to the ground with a sharp clang, and the Ogre roared once more. It immediately slammed its oversized fists into the ground, crushing the Hive around it. A stream of energy tore free from its face, slicing through the defenders. Now free from having to restrain the Ogre, Kelgorath set to the fray.

Luz slid behind cover as the Ogre turned to focus on her. Royal landed beside her in a burst of rejuvenating energy. His formerly pristine armor was caked with Hive innards, and the stench of battle clung to him. A distant part of Luz's brain entertained the thought that she probably reeked as well.

"We've got to bring that Ogre down, or it's going to tear right through us," Royal said. Luz peeked over the barricade, watching as the Ogre tore a Titan in half. It dropped the chunks of Lightbearer as an Abomaton opened fire on it. The next thing Luz saw, the magical machine was crushed under the Ogre's meaty fist.

"Its armor is too thick for my guns," Luz said. "Maybe I could throw some lightning?"

"I have a better idea," Venator said, revealing herself beside Luz. She spun Malfeasance on her finger, ejecting the magazine and sliding a new one in. "Brother, remember Imodon?"

"The Redeemer Mind?" Royal asked uncertainly. Venator gave a sharp nod and tossed a grenade into the Hive forces. It detonated with unstable Void Light, suppressing those caught in the blast. Royal drew his scout rifle and popped a few heads as he continued. "We had Paladin with us then."

Venator shrugged, "We've got Luz now. Strikers, Stormcallers, what's the difference?"

"There's a pretty big difference," Luz said, cycling a new magazine into her machine gun. The Ogre once again roared and flung a ball of Solar energy at Savathûn. Saint grunted as his shield absorbed it.

"Agree to disagree," Venator said. "Just sit back and enjoy the show." Royal sighed and slung his rifle over his back.

"I hope this works," he muttered, placing his hands together. Venator put a foot on the perch, and he flung her upwards, fueling his arms with Light. She pushed off, Light also pouring through her legs. She soared high into the air, drawing a pair of spectral blades. On the ground, Royal summoned his Dawnblade. Jets of flame sprouted from his back like wings, and he rushed toward the Ogre. Venator began to descend, falling toward the Ogre like a guillotine. It noticed the diving Hunter and opened fire with its eye blast. Venator wove around the beam and her knives met its flesh. As she did, Royal cut upward with his Dawnblade. The Ogre howled as the two Guardians cut into it. It fell to one knee with a deafening boom, searing gouges sliced into its mangled flesh. The tormented creature's blood erupted upon contact with the air, and the Ogre gave a pathetic, almost pitiable howl as it slowly succumbed to its wounds. The Ogre fully fell over, crushing at least a dozen Hive under its mass.

Venator rolled as she landed on the ground, her knives flashing as she sought more Hive to kill. Royal flew overhead, his Dawnblade scouring the Hive ranks. As Luz stood up from her cover, the ground shook and threatened to throw her off her feet. Kelgorath had reached the base of the stairs and slammed the blade of his axe into the ground. The majestic opaline floor shattered, scattering the defenders and sending them sprawling. Kelgorath crushed one Witch into paste beneath his fist.

"Carve a path of violence!" He roared, tearing his axe free from the ground. "Savathûn's heresy end this day!" Surprisingly, it seemed that the Witch Queen had little to say. Iris elected to answer with her pulse rifle, sending a barrage of bullets into Kelgorath's face. The SIVA-infused rounds bounced off his reinforced carapace. Kelgorath snarled and swiped his axe at the Hunter. She slid under his blade and continued firing at his head.

Kelgorath slammed the pommel of his axe into the ground, unleashing wreathes of ghostly fire that washed over the stairway. Iris was pushed back, swapping her rifle for a rocket launcher. She fired a volley of three rockets, two of which were batted away by Kelgorath. The third hit him center mass. Bolts of Arc energy rippled over the Knights carapace.

Kelgorath pushed through the barrage and swung at Iris once more. She rolled out of the way of his axe, only for him to snag her cloak. He flung Iris into the Hive horde and turned to continue up the stairs. He was halted in his tracks by a blast of fire from Royal. Luz quickly rushed up behind the Exo, firing bursts of lightning at Kelgorath.

Kelgorath raged, "I will not be denied!" He surged forward and brought his axe down toward Luz. Royal barely managed to shove her out of the way, sparing her from tasting the edge of the blade. Unfortunately for the Exo, he had placed himself right in the axes path. He was swiftly bisected, the enchanted weapon slicing through Royals armor and skin-steel easily.

Luz wasn't given time to panic as Kelgorath was almost immediately atop her. She barely managed to avoid his axe. The blade slammed into the ground beside her, shaking the room and sending her to the ground. Before Luz could move, Kelgorath's chitin-clad foot crashed down on her chest. Luz gasped as shards of her ribs were driven into her lungs, coughing and coating the inside of her helmet with blood. The air was driven from her lungs, leaving her dazed.

Kelgorath didn't pause to gloat, already preparing to split her head in half with his blade. Before he could swing, there was a distinct, sharp crack. A beam of golden sunfire hit Kelgorath right in the center of his helmet. The Knight staggered slightly, backing off Luz and relieving the pressure on her chest. She greedily drew in a breath of air, trying to ignore the dozens of bone daggers stabbing at her lungs as a second orange beam hit Kelgorath.

The Knight's armor cracked as he recoiled from the Golden Gun. Groaning with painful exertion, he raised his arm to blast his assailant with Arc Light. Luz winced as she stole a glance, looking to the top of the stairs. Above her, Crow fired his third shot into Kelgoraths shoulder, blasting his arm clean off. The burning limb fell to the ground with a meaty thud. To his credit, Kelgorath didn't let it stop him. The Knight was already trying to attack once more. Luz forced herself to one knee, Light spilling into her palm. She could barely see Kelgorath through the viscous crimson sludge coating the inside of her visor, but she could see just enough for her aim to be true.

Luz screamed as she flung a Nova Bomb at Kelgorath. The abyssal sphere of volatile energy carved a path of destruction through the air. Kelgorath could do little but brace himself as the mobile cataclysm reached him. The Nova Bomb exploded on contact, detonating with the force of a collapsing neutron star. Every newton of force was directed into the Knight, rending Kelgoraths flesh and bone apart on the molecular level. Unable to escape, his body erupted with soul fire as Kelgorath finally died.

Luz slumped over, all her energy drained and a gnawing pit in the base of her gut. She could feel Aurora working to repair her punctured lungs. Behind her, Crow was firing Hawkmoon as fast as possible to pick off the remaining Hive. With their commander dead, they were left scattered and confused. Some Knights attempted to establish control, only to make themselves priority targets for the reinvigorated defenders. Luz let herself relax as the rest of the Hive were mopped up. Crow walked up beside her and offered a hand.

"Eyes up, Guardian." Luz grinned wearily and accepted the gesture. Crow pulled her to her feet as Lancer finished reviving Royal. The Warlock rose and quickly assessed the situation.

"Malek," he said, activating his radio. The Hive commander is down. How are things at the Well?"

There was a brief burst of static before Malek responded. "Hive forces aren't stopping on our end." He was cut off by a burst of Hive gunfire. Malek laughed madly, and Luz could hear Hive bones snapping under his fists. "It's nothing we can't handle."

"Understood, over and out," Royal said. He sighed and turned to Luz and Crow. "Good work, but it's not over yet. Regroup and be ready-" He was cut off by the distinct sound of Savathûn chuckling. Saint lowered his Ward of Dawn as Mara approached the shackled God.

"You're running out of time," Savathûn said. "I can feel my sister bearing down on you."

"Your family is indeed tenacious, if nothing else," Mara said as her Techeuns drew close. Potent Awoken magics permeated the air around Savathûn. Her cage was ready to be broken.

"No more than yours," Savathûn replied cooly. Mara's face was quickly marred by a vicious frown.

"My brother spent years suffering for the path you made him walk," she spat. "Finally, justice finds its mark."

"Whatever justice there is comes from my hand," Royal said, stepping up behind Mara. His fingers hovered over Lament's trigger. Saint grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling the Warlock back before he could do anything rash.

"Let this be the end of it," Mara said. Her eyes began to glow once more. The Techeuns around her started to levitate. In an instant, Savathûn's crystalline cocoon began to crack. The power of the Awoken hammered into it, and it shattered like a mirror. Savathûn's prison glowed brighter than a solar flare, forcing Luz and those around her to shield their eyes. Even the Exo's were forced to avert their gaze lest they burn out their optics. There was the sound of shattering, and Luz pried her eyes open.

Savathûn's prison lay in shards across the floor. Smoke choked the air, obscuring her vision. Mara stepped forward, knife held at the ready. Her eyes widened briefly in surprise before narrowing once more. The Queen of the Reef began to chuckle dangerously, sheathing her knife as Saint rushed forward. Savathûn was gone, vanishing like a whisper in the wind. In her place was nothing but shattered crystal, the lingering miasma of defeat snatched from the jaws of victory, and the unconscious body of Osiris.

"Thank you." The words were distinctly Savathûn's, yet the Witch Queen was nowhere to be seen. Royal looked around frantically, as though his gaze could peel away Savathûn's treachery. Saint ignored her, rushing to Osiris's side and cradling him gently.

"Osiris," he pleaded, softly shaking the Sunsinger. "Osiris! Can you hear me?"

Luz knelt beside the Sentinel and laid a pool of soothing Light. Osiris remained unresponsive, and Luz placed the back of her hand on his forehead. She recoiled as something snapped at her. It felt Dark, but not in any way she knew.

"He's alive," she said. "Just in a coma. I can't wake him." Saint looked like he wanted to scream, to rage, to find Savathûn and tear off her jaw. Instead, the Titan put a mask of calm onto his face and nodded solemnly.

"She's really gone," Royal said blankly, as if he still didn't believe it. "She played us. Again." Fires sprouted as he spoke, his voice growing more and more furious. The Warlock lit up like a bonfire as he screamed in rage. Venator set a hand on his shoulder as the flames subsided.

"We need to tell the Vanguard now," Iris said, wiping blood that likely wasn't hers off her cloak. "We have a rogue Hive God on the loose in Sol."

"But she is without her worm," Mara said, gesturing to a small point of magic. "And so, she is vulnerable. With every thread she spins, she drives herself further into the corner. Rest assured, when we next meet, there will be no escape."

Within the Demon Realm, far from the Boiling Isles, Sergeant Habon of the Sentries pushed further into the cave system. His squad was on a distant Titan, following up on reports of strange tectonic activity. Something was shaking about deep underground. Initial scans had found nothing unusual, but the Commander liked to be thorough. Habon didn't hate the work, though it was boring sometimes.

His light spell illuminated the cave walls, revealing nothing but cragged rocks and sediment. Some spots showed the decaying bones of the Titan. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Sergeant, over here!"

Habon glanced over to another member of his squad. The Witch was gesturing for him to come over. The rest of his unit stood at the lip of a small entrance, peering into its shadowy depths.

"We found something," Selina continued. "This offshoot isn't on any of our maps. The quakes must've opened it up."

"A new passageway?" Habon asked. Selina shook her head.

"A new cavern."

Habon frowned and approached the entrance. He stuck his light spell through and stared into the darkness. The cavern stretched around him, receding out of sight in every direction. The walls and ceiling were lost in an ocean of shadows. All that he could see was the path leading sharply down.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's check it out. Maybe it's an underground geyser or something." He led the rest of the Sentries down into the deep, carefully marking the path behind them. They walked in silence, checking the area around them with sidearms and spells at the ready.

As they walked, they began to notice strange markings in the ground—deep gouges cut into the stone. A cursory examination revealed that it wasn't erosion; someone—or something—carved these marks.

"This place is giving me the creeps," Habon said. "I've seen enough. Let's head back to the surface and-"

"Sarge, look at this," Selina said. Habon glanced over to her. The Witch stood off to the side, inspecting something by the light of her spell. Habon approached, his brow furrowed in confusion. It was a wall, far too smooth and orderly to be naturally forming. It was composed of a pearly white, almost bone-like material that didn't match the stone around it or the skeleton of the Titan. Habon ran his hand across it, feeling the ridged surface under his palm.

"What in the Titans name?" He questioned. His ruminations were interrupted by the sound of something scuttering through the darkness. The squad was immediately at the ready, forming into a defensive circle. The sound of claws scraping against stone grew more prevalent until it seemed like it was all around them.

A bloodthirsty screech tore through the static cavern. The noises began to grow closer. Habon opened fire, blasting his hand cannon into the darkness. His squad followed suit, unleashing spells and bullets with little concern for what they might hit. A small, eyeless creature lunged out of the shadows. Its claws flashed, finding purchase in Selina's face. She screamed at its claws dug into her flesh. Another Sentry turned and shot the monster, only for more to pour out of the shadows. Habon holstered his weapon and summoned an Abomination from the goo in his sling. More of the creatures rushed toward them, growing more and more numerous until the floor disappeared under a tide of fangs and claws.

Habon bashed one creature's skull with the pommel of his staff. Behind him, another of his men went down. His summon was swarmed by dozens of the bastards. One of the Sentries tried to break and run, only for a glowing blue projectile to come flying out of the darkness and hit him center mass. The Demon exploded in a shower of electrified gore. Larger creatures emerged from the shadows, bearing armor wrought of bone. One brandished a vile sword, and Habon barely had time to react before the monster had impaled him.

As the rest of his men succumbed to the tide of tooth and claw, Habon clutched the weapon stuck in his gut. The creature pulled him closer, staring into his eyes and drinking deep of his fear. Its three green eyes burned with contempt, and with a dismissive flick, it discarded the Witch. He hit the ground, too weak to move. More of the smaller creatures descended upon him, digging their claws into his flesh.

As the Thralls tore the Witch apart, the swordbearer Knight raised his weapon overhead and let out a warcry. The cavern began to glow with Hive runes as hundreds of Tombships activated and took off. They trained their weapons on the ceiling and opened fire. Thousands of missiles peppered the cave roof, blasting it apart. Sunlight bore into the cavern for the first time in centuries as the Hive began their assault.

"For the Witch Queen!"

Oh man, you have no idea how much I've been looking forward to getting to this point specifically. It's invasion time, baby! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna be playing Act 2.

OMAC001: Memories are a Catch-22 for Guardians.

Indded. Also, now I'm imagining an Exo named Catch-22 who just sticks people in unwinable situations.

GodzillaMaster: "The Traveler had made its decision, and he had faith in its judgment."

Royal is going to have an aneurysm when we finally get to the Lucent Hive

Oh you better believe it. I cannot wait for it.

BlueRoseLevi: Yet another great chapter. You did the Crow memory scene justice with your adaptation loved Iris's fury at Savathun's Cayde comment, very fitting for her character. Philip is just a cinnamon roll now and I don't know how to feel about that. Amity doing much needed reflecting is nice to see. Finally getting that Royal-6 Iris Yue team up let's go, hopefully Malek will complete that trio in the future. The Scorn are taken now?! They're taken now!

Yeah, I didn't change it much since it's a pretty good scene on its own. And, of course, always gotta be making sure I'm writing Iris in a way that is satisfactory to you. There will be more to come with Philip, but it is a bit further down the line. Lastly, as I've said to you before, the Taken Scorn was just a neat one-off thing. Don't expect it to become a mainstay.

hornig3: Well that went only slightly better then in cannon so that's something. And if Luz needs to understand the difference from justice and vengeance her and Eido can see Variks! (This is not me using my powers to bring him forth once again but if it does yay.)

Must. Resist. Urge. To. Fanservice.

Amity tapped the dashboard of her jumpship impatiently as her radio hummed. She took a deep breath and waited for Royal to receive her transmission. She had a few questions about the situation with Savathûn, and he seemed to be the most obvious person to contact.

"Hello, this is Royal-6," the Exo in question said. Amity was about to start speaking when he continued. "I am currently unavailable right now, probably too busy being stuck in a timeloop or something. Leave a message detailing your current crisis, and I'll call you back once I sort out the one I'm already dealing with."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Amity groaned. She hung up the call and leaned back in her seat. "I hate talking to machines."

On the other end of the line, Lancer perked up as he received Amity's call. Royal dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll sort it out later," he said, his eyes glued to the screen before him. "I am not losing this match."

Beside him, Elise laughed. His fingers danced over her controller with the grace of a natural, a stark opposition to Royal's clumsy and uncoordinated movements.

"In your dreams."