Aside from the ambience of the machines, the Dalek control room was silent.

Daleks were connected to their consoles, silently staring at the monitors in front of them which displayed swirling energies in various shapes and forms; static, electric.

Suddenly, one of the screens flashed and beeped, drawing the attention of the Dalek overseer, who slid across the room towards the Dalek – whose screen beeped and flashed.

The Dalek swiveled its dome right, and stared directly at the overseer, behind it.

“Report?” the overseer said.

“Long-range transmission detected,” replied the Dalek operator, “It is coming from the Unknown Regions,” it said.

“Display,” the overseer instructed.

“I obey.”

The operator swiveled its dome a little further, fully looking behind it. The overseer also turned around, looking behind it – the operator – as a hologram appeared.

However, at seeing the hologram, the overseer abruptly backed away.

Surprised by the figure displayed before them.

“Greetings, Pentastar Alignment, I am calling you from the beyond, or what you know as the Unknown Regions…” the hologram said.

A little while later, the Time Controller was on the bridge of its flagship, the Exterminator, silently watching the mysterious message they had received mere moments ago.

Standing beside the Time Controller was the Supreme Dalek, who also silently observed the holographic message, though, truth be told, it was actually in disbelief over whether it was real.

Their very god was communicating with them, transmitting a message to them from somewhere across the galaxy. Specifically, somewhere in the Unknown Regions.

Even the Time Controller, itself, was shocked by what it was seeing and hearing.

“Included in this message are the co-ordinates to my whereabouts. They can be used to find me,” the hologram said.

“Find me, my children. Come find me, and together we will embark on the Great Journey, and lead all who are worthy to salvation.”

Once finished, the hologram vanished, leaving the Time Controller and Black Dalek in silence.

Soon, a Dalek operator swiveled its dome around and looked towards the Time Controller.

“Time Controller, we are receiving co-ordinates for a planet located in the Unknown Regions,” the Dalek operator spoke out.

In response, the Time Controller swiveled its own eyestalk towards the operator, staring towards it.

“Inform the excavation party on the surface that the Exterminator and four starships will temporarily depart for the Unknown Regions, and that we shall soon return with a great prize,” the Time Controller instructed to the operator.

“I obey,” the operator replied as it brought its attention back towards the control console in front of it, informing the fleet of the Time Controller’s imminent departure.

Rotating its eyestalk back in front of it, the Time Controller looked up at a holographic map displaying the galaxy.

Already, it was planning for the Daleks future in the Pentastar Alignment.

Now, however, with the message that they had received the Dalek stratagem would be proceeding a lot faster than originally presumed.

Out in space, the Exterminator and the four other Dalek ships altered course and moved away from the planet.

Once clear, the five ships abruptly shot forwards, jumping to lightspeed as they disappeared off to the Unknown Regions.

****

Meanwhile back on Liber in a far-off valley, a giant earthquake shook an inhabited Forerunner city.

Panic hadn’t spread, but the city’s inhabitants grew concerned for their safety, nonetheless.

Inside city control, security tried to make heads or tails of the situation, but they were unable to make heads or tails of it.

Then, before anyone in the entire city – citizen or personnel – could voice their thoughts about what was happening, countless large, thin, tentacles suddenly burst through the ground!

The tentacles shot straight up into the sky before bringing their full force down on the city structures, slamming into the buildings!

Destroying them, including killing the inhabitants by crushing them underneath the falling debris.

The inhabitants mustered their defenses to fend off the large tentacles, but just as their aircraft took flight and flew to attack the tentacles…the tentacles suddenly retreated back into the holes from whence they had come. Much to the inhabitants – but mostly the militia’s – confusion.

However, from out of the large holes the tentacles had left behind, something far worse emerged.

Hordes of Infection Forms!

The Infection Forms climbed up from the holes and began infecting the city inhabitants that had survived the tentacles’ onslaught.

Chattering, the Infection Forms leapt onto the nearest humanoids and burrowed their tentacles into the victim’s body.

Before full control was achieved, the Infection Forms introduced Flood supercells into the victim’s body, causing them to begin mutating. The victim sprouted growths on their bodies, and a whip-like claw grew from their left hand – leaving the other/right hand unaltered.

The victim’s head hung down to the side, now making feral growling and snarling noises as they now ran off to further spread the Flood infestation throughout the city.

Despite their technology, the militia struggled to contain the ever-growing number of Flood forms, all of which came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to assimilate the city faster.

From the holes – created by the tentacles – large masses of organic growths began spreading across the city, making it easier for the Flood to assimilate it into their already vast hive.

The militia aircraft hovering the city could only watch as the growths – from the Flood hive – covered their structures.

The Flood was not just assimilating the inhabitants, but fortifying the city, itself; turning it into a single, massive Flood hive!

Alongside the large quantities of Flood biomass that covered the city structures, larger and thicker tentacles had emerged and gradually slithered throughout the city.

Contributing to the spread of the Flood throughout the city and further weakening the already crippled defenses.

As the infestation continued, numerous transports departed the now doomed city.

Fleeing while the militia delayed the Flood.

From their relative safety in the skies above the city, the militia aircraft turned around and accompanied the retreating transports.

In the city center, the few uninfected survivors gathered for a final stand against the hordes upon hordes of Flood.

As the Flood spilled out into the city center, the survivors fired away at the grotesquely mutates Combat Forms and other abominations, cutting them down…but it was not enough to halt the advance of the parasite.

The black mass – that was the city inhabitants – grew steadily smaller as the sickly-pale mass – the Flood – seemingly swallowed them up.

Mercilessly devouring them all!

The war cries that hang rung throughout the city center as the final battle between the city’s inhabitants and the Flood gradually turned into agonized screams that echoed throughout the valley.

Onboard the transports and militia aircraft, the survivors heard their comrades screams.

Many – of the survivors – clenched their eyes shut and covered their ears, drowning out the screams and cries of help as they flew over the mountains.

****

After crossing the gap to reach the other side and traversing the same corridors they had used earlier, the Doctor, Twilight, Rey, and Mortuus made their way back to the open clearing where Rey had parked her speeder.

However, while the equines trudged towards the speeder, Mortuus froze in her tracks, stunned and confused about how the equines had managed to land here undetected.

“Explain this,” she said, causing the trio to stop in their tracks and turn around, looking behind them at the Precursor, “How did you manage to land such a simple craft within the walls of a Forerunner facility?” she asked, looking down at the Doctor.

He softly scoffed and held out his sonic screwdriver in front of him, showing it to the Primordial.

“I’ve been around Forerunner technology before, so I know how to get around their security and manipulate their systems,” he said, gently shaking the screwdriver as he smirked back at the Primordial.

If the Primordial had brows, they would have jumped at hearing this.

“Interesting, Time Lord…” she replied.

“It is…for a story anyway, but one I fear will have to be told later when we’re away from this place. I can only hide us for so long before the Forerunners realize that something is up,” said the Doctor.

“Then we shall depart before they do.”

The Doctor nodded back before he turned around and trotted up towards Rey’s speeder. However, he received a befuddled look from Twilight.

“Um, Doctor, isn’t she a little, um, big to fit on the speeder?” Twilight asked, pointing her hoof up beside her at the Primordial.

“Nn-hmm.”

The Doctor shook his head.

“If anything, I’d say she’s just about the right size,” he said, without even looking at either Twilight or the Primordial.

“What are you talking a-?”

“Will this size suffice, Doctor?”

The Primordial abruptly asked, drawing Twilight’s attention, causing her to turn around and look behind her.

As she looked behind herself, though, Twilight froze in her tracks as she saw the Primordial, who was suddenly a lot smaller.

In fact, she now looked to be about Twilight’s size.

Rey and Twilight’s eyes widened, staring slack-jawed at the Primordial, taken aback by how she had managed to change size like it was nothing.

“But- How did she-?” Rey asked, stuttering as she tried to make sense of all this. Same with Twilight, who merely pointed her hoof at the Primordial, trying to comprehend what was happening.

Hearing the confusion in their voices, the Doctor smirked and turned back around, noticing the confused mares.

He trotted up towards Twilight and gently patted her cheek, snapping her back to reality.

In response, she shook her head.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

“Y-yeah. I think so.”

Twilight turned her head, looking from side-to-side before staring back at the Doctor, who merely smiled back.

“Good, then let us get underway,” he said before he trotted back towards the speeder.

Passing by Twilight, the Primordial trotted up towards the speeder.

Twilight’s attention abruptly shifted towards the Primordial, following the pony-sized Precursor with her eyes. She then turned her head and looked towards Rey.

Both she and Rey’s jaws hung slack as they gawked at each other.

Twilight eventually closed her mouth a little and shrugged her shoulders at Rey. They then trotted up towards the speeder and got on. The Doctor and Primordial allowed Rey to get seated in the front – so she could control the speeder.

Starting the speeder up, Rey – and the others – felt it hover off the ground.

Engaging the boosters, the speeder sped forwards, gradually climbing higher into the air.

Turning the speeder around, she flew towards and passed over the wall, speeding away into the distance from the Forerunner facility.

****

Meanwhile back at the Master Builder’s facility, the Master Builder sat within his control room, observing his creations on a monitor.

The monitor displayed one of the soldiers – that he had sent into the Preserve – stuck to the walls by black substance. He screamed as his body convulsed.

Bones cracked as something bulged out on his chest. Painful waves coursed through his body as the thing within his tried to escape its host.

His skin punctured, causing blood to run down along his chest.

Then, with one final push, the creature within the soldier finally erupted from his chest.

A beige-colored, small, worm-like creature with sharp teeth now stuck out of the soldiers’ chest.

Now free of the prison that was its host’s body, the worm-like creature screeched aloud. That was the last noise the soldier heard before drawing his last breath, slowly hanging his head before he died.

Underneath his helmet, the Master Builder smiled to himself.

Unbeknownst to the Master Builder, Penitent Tangent teleported into the room.

As soon as the Monitor appeared behind the humanoid’s chair, he quickly hovered up towards the Master Builder.

“Master Builder, we have a situation!” Penitent shouted, “Patient Zero has escaped!”

Upon hearing those words, the Master Builder immediately froze in his seat. His chair quickly spun around, facing the Monitor.

“What!?” he exclaimed, shocked.

“We have also lost contact with the City of the Tribes, alongside detecting a large Flood presence in its vicinity,” Penitent said.

Underneath his mask, the Master Builder’s eyes widened.

“Show me!” he demanded.

Penitent nodded, then turned around to face the hovering screens in front of the Master Builder. He fired a beam at one monitor, causing it to change from the Preserve to a bird’s eye-view of the City of the Tribes.

The entire city was completely overrun by the Flood, with entire buildings covered in Flood biomass.

The Master Builder sat petrified in his seat, silently staring at the screen. Underneath his mask, though, his eyes threatened to pop out of his skull, and his jaw hung agape at the sight before him.

“No!” the Master Builder softly exclaimed, shocked and horrified.

“It cannot be- How did the Flood manage to construct a Gravemind without us-?”

He snapped at the Monitor, jerking his head towards Penitent. Enraged, though, his rage was halted by the revelation that dawned on the Master Builder.

He slowly turned back towards the screen, staring at it with wide eyes.

“The Flood…they consumed everything in the city,” he thought aloud.

“Master Builder, we must presume that with the thousands that the Flood have assimilated, that they will be coming here, for us now,” Penitent said.

The Master Builder didn’t move an inch, still starring at the infested city on the screen. He then briefly hung his head before he raised it back up. Underneath his helmet, he furrowed his brows as he turned around towards Penitent.

“Let them. My creations will finally be unleashed against the Flood,” he said.

“Very well, Master Builder,” Penitent replied, bowing back at his master before he teleported out of his private chambers.

Once alone, the Master Builder’s smile changed into a concerned frown…

Meanwhile in another section of the facility, several large hatches slowly opened outwards – arching upwards.

Light shined inside, silhouetting several humanoid beings with elongated heads, tubes protruding from their backs, and long, bladed tails.

The creatures growled and hissed as they stood at the opened hatch before they then got on all fours and crawled out.

Proceeding to climb down along the mountain side.

They briefly stopped moving as they received a telepathic message.

Instructions telling them what to do.

Once the orders were given, the creatures resuming climbing.

Scaling the mountain side to find the Flood.

****

Elsewhere, the Doctor, Twilight, Rey and the Primordial flew over the cold mountains back towards Rey’s dome-home.

None of them minded as the cold wind blew across their bodies. Not even the Primordial.

Piloting the speeder into the hidden entrance to her home, Rey flew up towards her dome-home’s garage entrance.

Once close enough, the garage doors automatically opened for her.

The doors craned upwards, allowing her to fly inside – the garage. The doors then closed behind her once she was inside.

Inside the garage, the speeder hovered above the ground until Rey switched it off, causing it gently touch-down on the floor.

Following which, the Doctor, Twilight, Rey, and the Primordial disembarked the speeder.

The Doctor sighed as he approached the Primordial, patting its back with his hoof.

“Come. You and I need to talk,” he said.

“As the first-ever Precursor to be encountered millions of years since your enforced superstation, we have much catching up to do. The universe has been busy since your absence.”

“As you wish, Doctor. We shall converse,” the Primordial said as she nodded.

The Doctor smiled and patted the Primordial’s back before they stepped forward towards the door – leading to the living room.

Leaving Twilight and Rey staring after them.

Turning their heads, the two mares faced each other.

Shooting each other blank stares, until Twilight smiled softly at Rey.

“Well, the Doctor certainly seems happy about finding a member of a near-extinct species,” she remarked.

Rey turned back towards the door, slowly nodding in response as she blankly stared at it,

“Yes, he does. Overjoyed as a matter of fact,” Rey said.

While she stared at the door, Twilight gently patted Rey’s shoulder.

“Well, I think I’m going to join him,” as she softly inhaled.

“He is not the only one with questions for the Primordial.”

She smiled before trotted trotting towards the door, then proceeding down the hall towards the living room.

Leaving Rey alone in the garage.

****

Sometime later on an open plain, a large horde of Equestrian, Jiralhanae, and Sanghelli Combat Forms growled as they proceeded towards the Forerunner control facility.

Hundreds of infection Forms accompanied the Combat Forms.

However, the Flood force abruptly stopped in their tracks as they sensed something coming their way.

The top of a nearby rolling hill grew darker as something moved atop it.

A single, large, black line that stretched across the entire hilltop.

The Combat Forms snarled at the newcomers, knowing they were not Flood.

The newcomers had black bodies with exoskeletons, long, barbed tails, elongated heads, and tubes protruding from their backs.

The Flood and Xenomorphs stared at each other…until the Xenomorphs abruptly roared and then charged down from the hill towards the Flood horde.

Running on all fours towards the horde of Combat Forms, which finally charged straight towards the approaching Xenomorphs.

While running towards the Xenomorphs, the Equestrian Combat Forms abruptly leapt into the air towards them.

The equines slashed their whip-like claws downwards towards the Xenomorphs, but several Xenomorphs abruptly shot their bladed up at the Combat Forms; piercing them in the chest.

Narrowly missing the Infection Form – inside the Combat Form – by a couple inches.

The Xenomorphs hissed and shoved the Combat Form off their tail onto another Combat Form, knocking them both to the ground.

As the Xenomorphs got close enough, the Infection Forms leapt onto the Xenos’ chests.

The Xenos hissed as the Infection Forms got their tendrils around their chests.

However, before the Infection Forms got a chance to penetrate the Xenomorphs’ bodies, they were suddenly pierced by the Xeno’s tails.

The Xenomorphs threw the now-dead Infection Forms off their bodies towards the ground, then resumed charging towards the Flood horde.

Then, Xenomorphs and Flood forms clashed!

Chaos erupted on the field as the two species fought each other.

Combat Forms slashed their whip-like claws, piercing the Xenomorph exoskeleton, causing their blood to spurt from the wound.

In spite of their injuries, however, the Xenomorphs continued on against the Flood forms; impaling them with their tails before holding the Combat Form up before extending their inner jaw and piercing the Combat Form’s head, instantly killing it – and forcing the Infection Form to flee to seek out a new host.

Several inured Xenomorphs pounced onto a few Combat Forms, knocking them to the ground where the Xenomorphs slashed them with their claws…while simultaneously spilling the acidic blood onto the Combat Forms – or the Infection Form directly.

Changing their tactics, the Combat Forms tried slashing the Xenomorphs’ heads off. However, in doing that, the acidic blood only sprayed on more Combat Forms as the Xenomorph screech and squirmed in pain, killing more Combat Forms than Xenomorphs.

Alongside the Xenomorphs, Facehuggers leapt onto the faces of several Combat Forms, knocking them to the ground as they roared in pain. While the majority of the Infection Forms were burned, a few survived the acid spray.

While the warrior Xenomorphs directly attacked the Combat Forms – and Infection Forms – the Xeno drones lunged onto Combat Forms, knocking them onto the ground.

Holding them as Facehuggers crawled onto and attached themselves to the Combat Form’s face.

Unfortunately, the drone was attacked and killed by another Combat Form, allowing the other Combat Form – the one trapped underneath the Xenomorph – to get up on their feet. But when the Combat Form tried ripping the Facehugger off its face, it tightened its tail around the Combat Form’s throat, killing it.

Now dead, the Infection Form abandoned its now useless host to find another.

During the battle, one Combat Form swung its whip-claw towards a Xenomorph, but the Xenomorph caught the Flood form claw with its tail and deflected it from the Xenomorph’s body.

The Xenomorph then went on the offensive, lunging itself at the Combat form and knocking it to the ground.

Standing atop the struggling Combat Form, the Xenomorph stabbed the Infection Form with its tail, killing it.

While a portion of the Equestrian Combat Forms possessed firearms, the majority of them did not. Forced to rely on their whip-like claws to combat the Xenomorphs, and with their smaller, weaker bodies, the Xenomorphs had an easy time overwhelming them…

****

From his private chambers, the Master Builder sat in his chair, holding the tips of his fingers against each other as he observed the battle between the Flood forms and his Xenomorphs.

Monitor, Penitent Tangent hovered beside his creator as he observed the battle too.

“Shall I deploy Sentinels, Master Builder?”

“No,” replied the Master Builder, not moving a muscle as he watched the battle.

“This is their test. They must see it through,” said the Master Builder.

“I just hope that their inferior numbers will allow them to prevail.”

Penitent Tangent silently looked at the Master Builder, but ultimately said nothing as he turned back towards the screen.

****

Meanwhile on the field, the battle between the Flood forms and the Xenomorph raged on.

The longer it went, the more the battle escalated.

However, now the Jiralhanae and Sanghelli Combat Forms joined the battle, charging towards the Xenomorph army.

At the same time, they opened fire on the Xenomorphs with their superior weaponry, mercilessly gunning them.

Unlike the equine brethern, the Jiralhanae and Sanghelli Combat Forms possessed both their whip-claws and their technologically superior firearms.

Under co-ordination, the Sanghelli fired their weapons at the Xenomorphs, blasting countless holes in them before they managed to get close – enough to attack.

Meanwhile, the Jiralhanae and Equestrian Combat formed a defensive line to protect the Sanghelli, while simultaneously pushing the Xenomorphs back.

None of the Xenomorphs could get close enough without either being shot down or impaled – by the claw-whip.

While the Jiralhanae and Sanghelli Combat Forms stayed in formation, the Equestrian Combat Forms charged towards the Xenomorphs, pushing their advantage while they had the upper hand.

Soon, however, the momentum suddenly turned against the Flood as several unseen figures – from amidst the Xenomorph force – immediately shot acid up into the air.

Curving downwards in mid-air, the acid came right back down towards the Jiralhanae and Sanghelli Combat Forms.

The Sanghelli and Jiralhanae Combat Forms roared in pain as the acid splattered onto them, injuring them and the Infection Forms.

A few of the Jiralhanae and Sanghelli Combat Forms were hit in vital areas, and thus collapsed dead to the ground.

Several Infection Forms tried to escape from their hosts – due to their sustained damage – only to screech as they were bombarded by a second volley of acid.

With the Flood’s lines weakened, the Xenomorph warriors charged straight for the physically smaller, weaker and outnumbered Equestrian Combat Forms, cutting them down without hesitation.

They also disposed of the Infection Forms that tried to escape their now-useless hosts.

Keeping up the pressure, Crusher Xenomorphs charged across the field towards the Flood hordes, ramming and indeed crushing Combat Forms underneath it, including Infection Forms.

The Combat Forms fired upon the Crusher, but not before it had managed to punch a hole in their lines, allowing the rest of the Xenomorphs to pour through and begin slaughtering Combat Forms…

“The Xenomorphs appear to be winning,” Penitent

From his chambers, the Master Builder smiled underneath his mask as he watched the battle turn in his Xenomorphs’ favor.

Despite their inferior numbers, the Xenomorphs were proving themselves a match for the Flood forms.

His theories about how to combat the Flood had proven to be right.

If the Flood could not infect the Xenomorphs and provide the same amount of near versatility as the Flood, itself, then they can be defeated.

If only he had more hosts, then he could produce more Xenomorphs and win through sheer force alone.

While focused on his thoughts, an alarm suddenly blared throughout the chamber. The alarm grabbed Penitent Tangent’s attention, but the Master Builder remained oblivious to it.

The Monitor looked around the room as red lights flashed before turning towards the Forerunner.

“Master Builder, seismic activity detected,” he informed him.

The Master Builder softly chuckled to himself.

“Worry not, Monitor. The Flood tentacles cannot reach us here,” he said confidently.

“They are growing desperate.”

Penitent Tangent turned towards a screen, staring transfixed in spite of what he saw.

“Master Builder…the Flood are not attacking us, they are-“

Before he could finish his sentence, the screen – that Penitent and the Master Builder had been looking at – suddenly began making a deep rumbling noise.

The Master Builder furrowed his brows as he noticed the ground cracking open on the screen…

Meanwhile outside on the field, the charging Xenomorphs abruptly stopped in their tracks as the ground shook.

Then, before they – the Xenomorphs – could react, large tentacles suddenly burst through the ground.

Shooting high into the air, to where they towered over the biomechanical creatures. Then, without hesitation, the tentacles slammed down onto the Xenomorphs, crushing them!

The tentacles brushed across the ground, crushing any and all Xenomorphs they – the tentacles – came into contact with.

Xenomorphs tried to evade them, only to be taken by surprise and cut or shot down by the Combat Forms, who made short work of them in their frenzied state.

“NO!” the Master Builder shouted as the tentacles crushed his Xenomorphs, smashing them underneath their weight.

As the fear welled within the Master Builder, he abruptly stood up from his chair but froze in his tracks as he watched the Flood forms wiped out the few remaining Xenomorphs on the battlefield.

Soon, no Xenos remained on the field.

Now, with their enemies destroyed the Flood force trudged onwards, passing over the hill towards the distant mountains – where the Master Builder’s facility was visible, perched high on the side of a mountain.

Underneath his mask’s visor, the Master Builder’s eyes widened as he realized where the Flood were going…

“They are coming here! For us,” he said horrified.

“Then we must evacuate at once, Master Builder!” Penitent said in a concerned voice as he turned to face the Forerunner.

However, before they could react the ground suddenly began rumbling and roughly shaking.

The Master Builder nearly lost his balance while Penitent Tangent looked around as the chamber shook. The hovering monitors flickered and then vanished entirely. The floors and walls groaned before they cracked, separating as the chamber fell apart.

“Whoa!” the Master Builder exclaimed as he leapt up into the air, igniting his armor’s hover mechanism, causing him to hover in mid-air as the cracked pieces of his chamber fell down into a dark void, below.

However, as he looked down into the void, his eyes widened as he noticed multiple, large tentacles slithering up along the side of his facility’s tower before they suddenly lunged up towards him!

“Master Builder, look out!” Penitent shouted.

The Master Builder grunted as he dodged the first tentacle, again as he dodged the second – tentacle – and then yet again as he dodged the third.

However, he failed to notice a fourth tentacle which hit him straight in the chest, pushing him backwards through the air and slamming him against the wall. He grunted upon hitting the wall.

“Master Builder!” Penitent Tangent called out before he flew straight up towards the tentacle that was pinning the Master Builder against the wall and fired a beam of energy from his eye at it, burning through the tentacle.

The severed half of the tentacle became limp, freeing the Master Builder before then falling down along the tower towards more incoming tentacles…but this time the Master Builder was ready for them.

Thrusting his arm out beside him, an energy blade extended from his right arm along with an energy shield on his left arm.

His visor display changed, now letting him better see the tentacles.

He then furrowed his brows, screaming as he raised his energy blade above head as he charged down through the air towards the tentacles. In response, the tentacles shot up towards him. He, though, evaded and sliced the tentacles with his blade, leaving them flailing in mid-air.

Tentacle after tentacle was sliced, until they abruptly pulled back, surrounding him instead of directly attacking him.

Freezing, he slowly spun in a circle.

Shield at the ready if they tried anything.

Like hungry serpents assessing their prey, the tentacles softly wriggled in mid-air in an attempt to throw him off.

One tentacle slowly inched itself forwards until it was close enough to lunge forwards towards him, but the Master Builder immediately spun around towards it and caught the tentacle with his shield.

While the tentacle pushed him backwards, the other tentacles attacked seized their opportunity and lunged towards him, but he ducked to avoid two of them, then quickly flew upwards to dodge another one, slicing that very same tentacle with his blade. However, one tentacle still managed to get through his defenses, knocking him backwards against the wall, the impact of which made him grunt in pain. Then, before he could recover and react the tentacles suddenly wrapped themselves around him, restraining him.

The Master Builder groaned and grunted as he struggled free from the tentacles’ grasp, but they were just too strong…but before he or the tentacles knew what happened, he abruptly vanished; teleporting away from their grasp.

Grasping at nothing now, the tentacles moved away, almost confused by what had just happened.

Despite the Master Builder’s surprise teleport, they joined the other tentacles in spreading throughout the facility.

Outside, the rest of the facility collapsed down on itself as the Flood tentacles moved throughout the mountain, moving throughout the mountainside that the facility stood upon.

As the foundation crumbled, the upper parts of the structure collapsed, slamming into the lower portions, further weakening the already collapsing facility.

Eventually, the facility lost structural integrity and fell off the mountainside, leaving the still-crumbling pieces to plummet down onto the surface, below.

As the ruins slammed into the ground, they created a large explosion that shot upwards into the sky.

Far away on the plain, the army of Flood forms stopped in their tracks as they saw the explosion – of the Master Builder’s facility.

Through the eyes of its Combat Forms, the Gravemind watched the destruction of its enemy’s facility.

Author's Note

Feedback and comments are appreciated