Lt. Wolfe stared into the churning red vortex of the Cerberus portal, pistol gripped tightly in his hand. Beside him stood Cpt. Raven Darkholme, Mitch Striges, and the assembled guild teams - a motley alliance united in exploring the unknown.
Wolfe tapped into his Odds abilities, calculating the probability streams ahead. What he glimpsed sent a chill down his spine.
In every potential timeline, Dr. Miles lurked as a looming threat, his true nature shrouded but monstrous. Without hesitation, Wolfe drew his sidearm and fired a round straight into Miles' forehead.
The facade melted away as the creature collapsed, revealing a twisted cat-like demon. It rose slowly, baring fangs in an unnatural smile.
"Clever, little mortal. I had forgotten about your bothersome talents," it hissed. "But you may call me Vex, Harbinger of Scorned Patience."
Wolfe kept his pistol trained warily on Vex. "What's your game, demon?"
Vex chuckled, a rasping, grating sound. "Why, to finally drag you all screaming into my realm beyond this portal! There, I will break you utterly and remake you as horrors that shall be unleashed upon your world."
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He snapped his claws, and a tide of gnashing, shambling monstrosities poured forth from the glowing vortex behind him, blank eyes glowing with unholy hunger.
"To battle!" shouted Bear, cleaving the first wave in twain with his massive axe. Energy blasts erupted from Booker as the crews scattered for cover, opening fire on the nightmarish horde.
In the chaos, Vex vanished back into the portal's malevolent glow. Wolfe tracked him briefly with grim resolve. The true battle was just beginning. Today, he would correct his failure to prevent the slaughter of Ares long ago. This time, the people he cared for would not fall prey to the darkness.
Vex seethed in the swirling chaos of his realm beyond the Cerberus portal. That wretched Wolfe had seen through his guise, foiling his intricate plans. So close to victory, only to have it ripped away!
No more waiting - the hour of destiny had come. "Minions, attend your lord!" Vex bellowed into the vortex.
Four hulking shadows materialized before him - his most loyal and feared lieutenants.
The goblin king Isa hissed eagerly, yellow eyes glinting with malice. "The mortal worms resist you, Master?"
"Worry not, we shall devour them all!" rumbled Vealec the Void Wyrm, ancient hunger roiling in his voice.
Hound Lord Kane bared bloodstained fangs. "Their anguish shall be exquisite when you break them!"
Lady Despair hovered silent but for the wailing souls orbiting her grasp. Vex addressed his gathered horrors.
"Too long we have endured these mortals' defiance. Now you shall teach them despair!"
Howls and roars erupted from his army swarming the horizon, a seething tide of fangs, claws, and corruption.
"Go forth and bring them before me!" Vex commanded. "Rip open the portal so that we may drag them here, even kicking and screaming if we must!"
With a cacophony of bloodthirsty screams, his legions surged forth into the Cerberus vortex to fulfill their master's bidding.
Vex watched his minions depart with a cruel smile, twisting his lips.
"Plead and bargain if you wish," Vex muttered to himself, savoring the coming anguish. "It shall change nothing. Your minds, bodies, and souls are forfeit now."