Authority screeched as it dragged against the ground.

  Warden trudged forward, each step heavy.

  Wanderer was locked in a three-way battle with Raguel and Dusk.

  Raguel was bathed in the Beacon's Heartlight again, a thick white aura around him.

  A large balancing scale had manifested above Raguel, emitting a similar white aura.

  What was that?

  Dusk's Shadow Mist had mostly dissipated.

  Warden could see Dusk breathing hard, parts of his armour broken.

  Wanderer smashed down onto Raguel, but Raguel simply raised a palm above his head and Wanderer's attack stopped inches from his hand, before repelling Wanderer's attack, sending him crashing into a wall.

  Warden's Heartlight surged.

  The screech of Authority drew Wanderer’s attention.

  A sonic boom.

  Warden swung Authority up to counter Wanderer's surprise attack.

  Warden slid back from the impact.

  Wanderer rode the momentum of the impact into the sky, hovering there.

  "I was getting bored since you went down so fast." Wanderer chuckled.

  Warden's grip on Authority tightened.

  Good.

  Come.

  Wanderer tilted his head.

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  "Not gonna open your Territory?" he asked.

  The Cube sat on the ground, dead, useless.

  Warden inhaled, then exhaled deeply.

  Authority rested at his side, like an executioner’s blade.

  I only need one hit.

  Wanderer's thrusters roared as he took off into the air and dropped like a comet onto Warden.

  Warden lifted Authority onto his shoulder.

  He didn't move an inch.

  Not even as Wanderer closed the distance, twin meteor hammers swinging.

  A split second before impact, Wanderer hesitated.

  But it was too late.

  Wanderer slammed into him, twin meteor hammers smashing into his armour.

  The impact hit like a meteor to his gut.

  Warden skidded across the floor—but didn’t fall.

  Wanderer’s eyes widened.

  Just as Wanderer was about to use the momentum to take to the air again, a firm hand grabbed onto his thrusters before he could pull away.

  Warden didn't let go as Wanderer thrashed, thrusters roaring.

  One hit.

  Gripping firmly with one hand, Authority fell.

  The sledgehammer moved in slow motion.

  The peen snapped into place mid-swing, driving the head down harder.

  Warden's arm muscles screamed as he slammed Authority down onto Wanderer.

  The impact sounded less like a strike—

  and more like a collapsing building.

  A shockwave rippled through the underground space.

  Wanderer lay motionless, his suit caved in where Authority struck.

  His thrusters were gone.

  Movement.

  Wanderer picked himself up, struggling to his feet.

  Still alive?

  His armour is tougher than I thought.

  Wanderer stood, clumsily swinging his weapon into Warden's guts again, sending him tumbling onto the ground.

  "Well played! I wasn't expecting that," Wanderer exclaimed weakly.

  Warden lay on the floor, breathing hard.

  He felt a sharp stabbing feeling in his chest, oxygen refusing to enter his lungs.

  "Well, it was fun while it lasted." Wanderer chuckled softly.

  Wanderer tried activating his thrusters to join the fight with Raguel and Dusk, but it sparked and fizzled.

  Wanderer frowned.

  At that moment, laughter filled the air.

  Raw, unfiltered laughter in the middle of the ongoing battlefield.

  It was only when Wanderer stared at him that Warden realised it came from himself.

  Blood spurted out of his mouth as he choked on it, breathing hard between giggles.

  Warden's own laughter was the only thing he remembered as his consciousness faded into darkness.

  ---

  Legionnaire drones watched as Warden's laughter eventually died out.

  A drone knelt next to Warden's unconscious body.

  Blood loss moderate.

  Multiple rib fractures.

  Breathing laboured, possible flail chest or pneumothorax.

  Situation critical, evacuating immediately.

  3 more drones gathered around Warden and carried him off to seek treatment.

  Variables changed, reassessing situation...

  Situation reassessed.

  Already secured Doors: 86%

  Chances of taking remainder of Doors: 10%

  Legionnaire followed his programming.

  They weren't taking the subsequent fights.

  Not with Warden out of the equation.

  Dusk wasn't in a state to fight too.

  His armour had been torn apart, his Shadow Mist thin.

  Legionnaire sent a drone to Raguel.

  "The GDA has a proposition." Legionnaire's robotic voice said.

  Raguel turned to the drone.

  "I'm listening," he said.

  "The Covenant may have the rest of the Doors in the IDCG. In return, we keep whatever Doors we've already discovered."

  "And why shouldn't I just take them all by force?" Raguel pressed.

  "Because then you'd be blatantly starting a war with the GDA. Would you like to cause unnecessary bloodshed?"

  Legionnaire had analysed Raguel's GDA file.

  A former judge.

  He believed in fairness and justice more than anything.

  There was an 80% chance he'd accept the deal.

  "Fine," Raguel sighed. "But we'll still need to capture the rest of the IDCG members and guards."

  "That's been settled. My drones have already secured the main area. The Doors are all yours." Legionnaire said, drone turning away.

  Bargain successful.