Destiny: The Legendary Hunter

A/N: Apologies for late upload, got caught up with some bs work ngl.

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Void's eyes drifted ahead, all he could see were long winding hallways that stretched endlessly into the dark. No lights flickered there. It seemed entirely forsaken by anything living. 

Yet, as Void got to his feet and trudged closer, he could feel it. Something was watching him. 

Obsidian pulsed, blinking with a short burst of glimmering light that seemed to faintly illuminate the dark corridors.

"I guess Rasputin's got eyes on us" Void muttered, creeping closer to the dark. His eyes flashed blue, searching for energy signs, but strangely there were no residual traces left behind. 

"I don't see anybody, no signs of life at all." Obsidian murmured, swiftly scanning ahead with a blue laser light.

Then, the vault stirred again and gears grinded faintly, Void immediately looked over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed, "The entrance latch just closed."

"Looks like we're wanted inside" Obsidian flittered, nudging ahead.

As Void turned back, he saw a jolt at the the end of the long hallway, right at the edges of the dark, screens lit up. Red lights blinked into existence across the panels, and then the floor split open, revealing a circular elevator shaft leading into the underground.

"I suppose he's got some style." Void chuckled, flickering towards the the elevator.

At its centre was a warped but faint red logo. One that he would never forget.

"So? What do you say?" Void asked Obsidian as he gestured towards the elevator.

"Its risky, we don't know where we're going." Obsidian hummed, unsure, "this is quite the shady spot too."

"You know what they say," Void sighed, "Fortune favours the bold."

"They also say there's a fine line between the bold and the reckless" Obsidian flittered forward to peek down the elevator shaft, "And that...is a five hundred foot drop." 

"Last I checked, that's still a straight line down." Void shrugged.

"Right, so let me get this straight. You want to go down to this obscure shaft and just hope that a Warmind known for being ruthless will just....play along?" Obsidian's eye narrowed.

"You know, when this eventually does come to bite us in the ass, don't expect me to help." Obsidian shook irritably. 

"Not that I doubt your analysis, but unfortunately, we don't have the luxury to wait around," Void crouched near the shaft, gauging the drop, "It's either we get to Rasputin, or the Fallen find it. And trust me, the latter is a whole lot worse." 

"Right..." Obsidian sighed helplessly, "Alright lets have a go then, earth's not gonna save itself."

"I wish it could partner," Void leaned with one foot over the shaft, "I really do."

Void heaved a breath, and then he nudged forward, dropping down into the dark.

-

[Tower, Last City]

The soft hum of old generators echoed through the dimly lit underdark of the City.

And away from the bright courtyards and ever-watchful eyes of the Vanguard, the last loyalists of the City's Factions convened.

Executor Hideo stood near edge of a balcony, facing the cold winds his posture was crisp but anxious. Arach Jalaal leaned in the shadows with arms crossed, a hood covered his face, Lakshmi-2's optics pulsed softly, focused on the holoscreen in front of her.

The three faction leaders had gathered for one purpose. To observe the guardians that had newly risen.

"Is this combat footage accurate?" Lakshmi asked sceptically. 

"As real as it gets," Jalaal scoffed, "Dead orbit scouts collected this themselves in Rocketyard, not even the Vanguard knows we have this." 

Lakshmi's eyes widened, her arms cupped together as he rested her chin on her knuckles.

"If this...no, if the new lights are truly capable of such feats...then-" Lakshmi examined the footage deeply.

"Then it just means we've caught on early." Hideo turned, his fingers drummed the railings, he walked back to the table, "For guardians that have only been active a few weeks, they've shown remarkable results, almost as if they were made for war."

Lakshmi's hands pressed against the table, "It's truly a chance we cannot miss. But, it is strange."

She turned to Hideo, "This sudden leap in ability, and terrifying rate of improvement does remind me of something." 

Her eyes shifted to Jalaal, the optics seemed to narrow as she shot him a glare, "I am sure you can recall what that led to."

Jalaal's jaw tightened, "The Nightstalker? He's history. Exiled for life. Not even the Vanguard can pardon that. One nutcase shouldn't ruin our outlook on a whole generation of guardians."

"Indeed. In a way, he was only the first of the new generation, an extreme outlier." Hideo rubbed his chin, "Besides, compared to him, the newer generation has a far greater potential." 

"How so?" Lakshmi raised a brow.

"Its simple, what seemed to take him months, only took them days. In just a year, he won't even hold a candle to them." Jalaal walked towards the table, "In a decade, they'll dwarf him entirely."

Lakshmi's optics flickered again, her eyes narrowed, "And what of this one?" She zoomed into the footage, pausing at the mysterious guardian clad in black, "He's not someone I've ever seen."

"They call him Viper. We tried finding him, but the city has no records. Most likely, he rose during the war." Jalaal replied.

"He's likely a rogue guardian. The combat footage suggests he's an arc hunter. He's strong." Hideo swiped on the hologram, showing an in-depth review of the footage.

"But he's skilled. Our scouts tried following him, but he was gone before they knew it." Jalaal chimed in.

"Another mystery, how intriguing." Lakshmi nodded, "With that said, what's the next step? I don't suppose you two called me here to reminisce." 

Jalaal and Hideo exchanged glances, there was a deep silence.

"We think....that its time we start again. So to say, start over." Jalaal chirped.

There was a pause, Lakshmi hummed, "Let me guess, you two can't pull enough votes in the Consensus to allow for the factions to be mobile?"

Hideo seemed irked, "With all due respect, your cult doesn't seem to be doing any better."

"With how agitated you are, I've struck a nerve." Lakshmi smiled, "But you're right. At the moment, the Future War Cult doesn't hold much standing in the Consensus either."

Jalaal and Hideo frowned, their plan hinged on the fact that the Future War Cult still held some votes..

"Of course, there is an alternative." Lakshmi read their faces and shook her head.

Hideo raised a brow, too apprehensive to ask. 

"We just need to start recruiting again." Lakshmi shrugged.

There was a pause. Hideo glanced toward the balcony. "Would the Vanguard allow us to recruit again?"

"They don't have to," Lakshmi answered. "Not if we phrase it right. No formal pledges. No tests. Just… incentives."

Lakshmi's voice dropped. "Offer benefits. Access. Equipment. Make it seem like a choice, not a recruitment."

"A silent contract?" Jalaal smirked, "Your plan is clever, but there is a cost, isn't there?"

"Naturally." Lakshmi replied, "The only way this works, is if all the factions do it. The Vanguard can't ban us all out, while banning only one would sow discord."

"Wretched and subtle." Hideo's eyes seemed to scan Lakshmi warily.

"As always." Lakshmi nodded in response.

 "Let the guardians believe it's their idea." Hideo continued, "In time we grow. Quietly. Patiently."

"And once they're ours," Lakshmi smiled, "The Vanguard won't have much to say."

They looked at one another and nodded. The idea was dangerous—but necessary. The Tower had forgotten the power of ideology. It was time to remind them.

"Let's begin preparations," Lakshmi said. "Tomorrow, we make our presence known again."

The factions would return to the Courtyard.

And with time, so would their influence.

-

[Golden Age Vault]

The air in the elevator shaft had grown stale, it was thick with the scent of oxidized metal. 

Void dropped silently through the shaft, and then he slammed against the dust-caked floor with a dull thud.

As Void got to his feet, he looked ahead. It was an empty room. Or rather, a room that seemed to stretch into emptiness.

Light was scarce here, save for the soft glow from Obsidian and the faint amber pulse coming from deeper within.

"That's the control room." Obsidian blinked beside him, pointing to the circular room ahead.

Void nodded, quietly walking inside. He looked around, the walls seemed thick, as if lined with a dense material.

The room was mostly empty. But at its perimeter, there were doors, or rather gates. Void couldn't tell.

But in the centre, was a dormant holographic terminal.

As Void approached, the room seemed to pulse with each step he took. Just as he neared the centre of the room, the terminal flickered to life.

Golden circuitry danced across its surface, as if summoning a presence. Void crept closer with quiet caution, each footstep reverberating against the chamber's steel floor.

Then, all at once, it responded.

A heavy metallic slam echoed behind him—then another—and another, until half of the circular room was sealed shut with a hiss of airtight pressure. He could no longer see the elevator shaft leading up.

Void's eyes narrowed, he didn't flinch. But his jaw tightened, ever so slightly.

"You're just going to keep me waiting?" He spoke seemingly to no one.

But then, almost as if responding, a deep, harmonic rumble shook the room as energy surged through the walls.

The terminal's screen blinked, casting dim light over the still air. Then the voice came—synthesized, deliberate, in a tone that seemed designed not just to inform, but to judge.

"Designation unknown. Biological and non-biological markers… elevated"

Red lines scanned across his body as ceiling-mounted arms descended, whirring and humming. They bathed him in crimson light, every inch of him examined in excruciating detail.

"Origin: Lightbearer. Metadata corrupt. Paracausal powers detected. Alien Psionic signature detected—unidentified. Results Inconclusive."

Void stood unmoving beneath the scrutiny, his shadow flickering across the terminal's face. "A bit rude to just scan me." he said quietly. "If you're done, poking around why not show your face."

The terminal blinked, a hologram of energy projected in the room, filling it with red light.

[We meet again]

Rasputin spoke, its voice heavy.

Void crossed his arms, "So we do. I don't suppose you know who I am."

The room fell silent. As if Rasputin was deep in thought. The hologram of energy seemed to stir, circling Void, almost as if it recognized him.

[Lightbearer, one who walks even after death. You've raided my vaults before. Searching for weapons, searching for power. I warn you, do not make such a mistake again.]

"Mistake? You call helping you out a mistake?" Void chuckled, eyeing the projection, "I did raid your vaults. But not for power, not for my gain, but to stop the Fallen for misusing your technology."

Rasputin hummed, its projection seemed to flicker with static.

"You might not care, but the weapons you seek to hide from the City only serve to be used against humanity. After all, you're powerless against the Fallen right now." Void frowned.

"The golden age called you a protector. An all seeing saviour." Void paused, his jaw tightened, "Where is your so called protection? Where were your warsats when the City faced the world alone to save the last humans?" 

Void's voice rose with each sentence, "Or is it that the great tyrant cowered in the face of the dark, choosing to hide in its bunkers as humanity faced the collapse."

Finally, the projection surged.

[There's no one to blame, it was simply the misfortune of being born when the whole world was dying.]

Void frowned, "So you abandoned humanity because of misfortune?", he sighed and shook his head. 

"I know the collapse was almost fatal. That it was, unstoppable." Void's eyes flickered, a faint glimmer of hope within, "But that's not the case now. With the Light by our side, we can finally fight back."

Rasputin's projection listened in silence.

"I need your help. Without you, humanity won't stand long." Void urged.

There was a pause. As if Rasputin was considering his offer.

But then, it spoke.

[Request denied.]

Void's eyes narrowed.

[Your origins are not human. You are not human. Your future motives remain unknown. ]

[Your presence is a deviation. Intent—unknown. Appearance—human. Core—foreign. Statistical likelihood of control failure: unacceptable.]

The projection paused. Humming resumed—calculations in motion.

[Historical precedent supports intervention. The Golden Age fell by ignoring anomalies. You are a variable. Unbounded. Therefore-]

Another hiss cut through the silence as two side panels retracted into the floor.

[—you are a threat.]

Void sighed again, entirely frustrated.

From the shifting walls, two Juggernaut Frames emerged—towering constructs, plated in heavy golden armor and humming with stored kinetic energy. Their eyes lit a deep crimson as they activated, their chassis flexing with power.

Obsidian blinked beside Void, "You know, I don't wanna say I told you so. But....I kinda told you so"

"Zip it." Void gently shoved Obsidian as it disappeared into particles.

Void turned to the projection, his hand rested on the hilt of his blade, "I'll ask again, are you sure you want to do this?"

Rasputin's voice dropped.

[You entered seeking answers. Our deal is fulfilled, but there was no mention of a safe return.]

Void slowly sheathed his blade, and the room trembled. A pale light radiated from its edge.

Rasputin's projection blinked again, this time a strange negative pressure surged in the room as the air seemed lighter than ever.

Void heaved in a heavy breath, his eyes were sharp, he immediately noticed what was happening, 'He activated the gas valves above. In a few minutes, this place will be out of air.'

Then, the first frame moved.

So did he.

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