an ODST among Heroes.

S2-15

Half.

Half of their remaining forces had fallen before they even reached the blast doors. The Flood's relentless onslaught had been merciless, and the survivors moved with grim determination. Covenant engineers worked feverishly to override the door’s security. When the blast doors finally slid open, the group surged through, slamming them shut before any Flood could follow.

"You redeem yourself, Chieftain," the Prophet of Truth said coldly, his gaze lingering on Krag’Zarak.

Krag’Zarak offered no response, his focus on the battle ahead. The Flood had taken too much already, and the weight of his warriors' sacrifices hung heavy in the air.

The march to the control room was a tense, wordless affair. When they finally breached the chamber, they were met with an unexpected sight. A lone human sat at the central console, his posture casual yet confident. He swiveled his chair to face them, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"Hey, Ord," said Izuku, leaning back. "Or should I say, 'Truth' now? Gotta say, I almost didn’t recognize you with the new branding."

Truth's expression darkened instantly, his voice trembling with rage. "Your blasphemy ends here, Halsey. This sacrilege will not go unpunished!"

Izuku raised a brow, unimpressed. "Blasphemy? Oh, please. Save the theatrics." He turned to the Covenant forces flanking Truth, addressing them as if they were old acquaintances. "Hey, Krag. Nice to see you again. And the rest of you, well, hate to break it to you, but your entire religion? It’s a lie."

"You dare?!" Truth snarled, rising from his throne.

Izuku waved dismissively. "Spare me the outrage. I’ve been down this road before. I chose to go on your so-called Great Journey, remember? This ring? It’s already on a collision course with High Charity. So, congratulations! Your greatest wish is about to come true in real time."

Truth’s face contorted in disbelief and fury. "You—"

But before he could continue, Krag’Zarak stepped forward, his imposing frame towering over both Izuku and Truth. "A lie, you say?" he rumbled, his tone carrying an edge of suspicion.

Izuku nodded, his expression serious. "Ask him," he said, pointing a finger at Truth. "Ask Abject Testament, the Oracle, the one who holds the truth behind your beloved weapon of mass destruction. Since none of you would believe me, let the Oracle tell you the real purpose of this ring."

A low hum filled the room as Abject Testament, the AI monitor of the Halo ring, floated forward. Its calm, clinical voice broke the uneasy silence. "This installation, like its counterparts, was constructed as a measure of last resort. Its purpose is not ascension, but extermination. The rings are weapons designed to annihilate all sentient life within their effective radius, thereby starving the Flood of any potential hosts."

The room fell deathly silent as the Covenant warriors absorbed the revelation. Truth’s eyes widened in horror, the full implications dawning on him.

Krag’Zarak’s lips curled into a grim smile. Without warning, he lunged at Truth, knocking the Prophet from his elevated throne. The Prophet’s golden robes billowed as he tumbled to the floor.

"Aww," Krag’Zarak mocked, his voice dripping with contempt. "Too scared to take your Great Journey, Hierarch?"

Truth scrambled to his feet, his composure shattered. "You—you must stop this madness!" he bellowed, turning to Izuku.

Izuku rose from his seat, his expression unreadable. "Why would I stop? I’m giving you exactly what you wanted. I’ve already locked in the course, and you can’t override it. This ring will fire, and it will end the Flood. Oh, and it’ll send every race within the blast radius on their ‘Great Journey.’ Fitting, don’t you think?"