There were many monsters that roamed the burning pits of Tartarus beyond its horde of demons. From the chimeric hunters of Limbo to the entrapped black wendigos of Wrath, the infernal fauna of Hell was as diverse as its Circles. Standing quite literally heads and shoulders above all of them, however, were the ancient and terrible Hekatonkheires. With hundreds of hands capable of uprooting mountains and just as many unblinking, ever-watchful eyes, these colossal wardens of warped flesh and tortured metal represented the nigh insurmountable power that kept the inmates of Tartarus in their place. Indeed, many would-be escapees have abandoned their quests of egress upon meeting such behemoths for what could one do when something that big wanted you dead? The one that stalked the volcanic Fields of Punishment was no exception but Tirek was determined not to fold like so many before him. To that end, the warlock and his volunteer vanguards had sallied forth from Dis to meet the approaching one-monster army before it could spoil their Grand Exodus in its infancy.

“Do you have a plan, sir?” One of the demons asked the crimson champion as they entered the brute’s long and deep shadow. “Or do we just rush it and hope for the best?”

“Surround it and divide its attention. The less heads that are focused on any one of you, the less likely you are to be pulverized.” The centaur ordered. “Gordon, harass it from the air. I’ll go for its legs.”

"Copy that." The tiger-hawk confirmed. "Loose formation, chaps."

The one weakness Tirek perceived in the wandering warden was that for all its hands and heads, it still moved on two legs. Granted, each one looked powerful enough to punt him into low orbit but they did not appear to be as dexterous as its other limbs. The centaur signaled his cohorts to fan out and surround the Hekatonkheires. He took cover behind a rocky outcrop and waited for an opening to present itself.

“TRESPASSERS!!!” The vocal hurricane roared as its multiocular gaze fell upon the displaced demons. “YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE!!!”

“I agree. That’s why we’re trying to leave.” Tirek muttered under his breath as he gathered a lance of burning magic into his fist and hurled it at one of its many eyes.

While the massive monster managed to blink in time, the surrounding demons took the cue to launch their own attacks. Fireballs, arrows, and javelins assaulted the towering terror, most of which bounced harmlessly off its plated flesh but a lucky few stuck home and incrementally blinded the warden. The airborne fiends, for their part, kept the uppermost limbs occupied with similar tactics. The hellions could only fire off one or two volleys before the hundred-armed abomination retaliated with tectonic shifting blows or hurricane force swipes of its fists and hands. The swift and aware were able to relocate while their less adapt fellows were reduced to a greasy smear in the scorched ground. The centaur galloped from cover to cover as the earth split apart beneath him, deigning to remain out of sight for as long as possible. The last thing he wanted was for the behemoth to see him specifically.

“Something tells me this thing holds a grudge.” Tirek told himself as he narrowly avoided a titanic blow that obliterated a rocky outcrop along with half a dozen of his vanguards. “If I can get underneath it, I should be fine.”

With the throng of demons holding the Hekatonkheires’ multifaceted attention, the centaur managed to get between the skyscraper-sized legs. Making a mental note not to look up in case the abomination did not believe in undergarments, the warlock channeled his titanic power into a lash of burning energy. With a swing, he whipped the flail across one of the warden’s heels, slashing the tendon and drawing a fountain of inky black ichor. With a deafening roar of pain, the colossus sank to one knee and was forced to use a few of its hands to brace itself against the ground. Tirek was about to do the same to the other foot when a hand reached underneath and closed around him.

“Shit!” The champion tried to pry himself free but was unable to loosen the Hekatonkheires granite crushing grip.

The warlock lost his sense of direction as the warden lifted him off the ground and up into the air. His ascent came to a sudden stop and the fist unclenched, leaving the centaur standing on an open palm the size of a village. Half a dozen eyes focused on him and narrowed in recognition.

“YOU AGAIN!?!” The warden rumbled like a thunderhead.

“We just keep bumping into each other.” Tirek said lightly as his mind raced for a way to escape that did not involve a deathly plummet.

“FOR THE LAST TIME!!!” The monster declared as it raised another hand to turn the irksome centaur into a bloody stain.

“Oh no…” The warlock turned and galloped for the fingers out of desperation.

With a thunderous clap, the Hekatonkheires slammed its hands together. Rather than the sickening crunch of flesh and bone being reduced to gristle, there was only a small itch on the end of one of its fingers. It pulled its hand away and upended the other to find Tirek dangling by a craggy fingernail.

“Okay, now what?” The cling on asked himself as he assessed his options.

A glance down showed yet another hand rapidly approaching with fingers in a pinching position. Just before he was popped like a pimple, Gordon shot down like a bolt and snatched the centaur from his predicament by his arms. The griffon's speed was arrested by Tirek's considerable weight but he managed to fly them out of range of the behemoth.

"Nice save, Gordon." The champion said thankfully.

"Any time, old bean." The Major-general grunted in obvious strain. "Excuse me for saying but you are quite heavy."

"Grab me from my equine back." Tirek suggested. "You'll get a better grip."

Gordon followed his advice and released the centaur. The warlock felt a sickening moment of freefall before the griffon latched himself to his lower half. While he did have a more secure grip, the tiger-hawk was still straining and he was nowhere near as nimble.

"Good show with taking out one of its legs but I don't think we are doing any lasting damage to the brute." Gordon said in concern.

"Its hide is thick." Tirek admitted. "We might have to settle with wearing it down unless there is a weak point we can exploit."

"There might be." The tiger-hawk said brightly. "There is a head at the top that is more defined than the rest. My talons are not up to the task but perhaps you are."

"Worth a shot." The centaur decided. "Get me up there."

Gordon nodded as he pulled up and began to climb into the air. The two Banished's minions continued to harass the behemoth but their numbers were dwindling, thus freeing up more hands and eyes to watch the skies. Despite the griffon's best efforts, the crimson gaze of the Hekatonkheires eventually fell on the pair. A massive hand rose up not long after to swat them down like a bothersome fly.

"Blast!" The tiger-hawk tried to evade but it was a futile effort.

Before he was pulverized, Tirek quickly called upon the power of the Rainbow of Darkness and gathered it in his hands. He then fired it at the hand in the form of a bolt of black lightning. The blast struck the center of the palm and spread out with an evil-sounding crackle.

“ARGH!!!” The Hekatonkheires instinctively pulled its hand away in pain. “FOUL SORCERY!!!”

This opening allowed Gordon to avoid the living wall and rise above the raging warden. The griffon leveled off as Tirek beheld the rare sight of a Hekatonkheires from above. He also noticed the one head that stood out from the rest, larger and more defined than the rest. It did make a tempting target.

“I can’t believe I’m about to do this.” The centaur muttered to himself. “Either this works or I splatter against the ground.”

"We're right over our target, old bean." Gordon said as he let go of the champion. "Bombs away!"

Calling upon both his titanic and malevolent power once more, the warlock channeled it into his hands and hooves until all were burning with energy. He fell toward the still recovering warden like a comet. The warden’s primary head, possibly sensing the magical charge, looked up just in time to spot its adversary. A look of dreaded comprehension crossed its stricken features as Tirek struck it right between the eyes. With a bone shattering crack, the infernal champion slammed against the Hekatonkheires like a stone from a sling, cracking its plated skin.

“AHH!!!!” The beast roared in pain.

Not wanting to give his foe a chance to recover and swat him away, Tirek dug his fists deeper into the warden’s flesh and fired all he had channeled into the monster’s forehead. Flesh melted and peeled off its primary skull as a wicked combination of titanic and dark power tore through its primordial body, blowing out eyes and severing limbs at random. The abomination’s cries of agony shook the very Fields until they were silenced by a thunderclap of a crack. Its entire body went limp and sagged as its spine collapsed. In the silence that followed, the warden remained upright for a few long and painful moments before gravity overrode its balance and it fell to the ground in an avalanche of scorched flesh, limp limbs and bleeding faces. The centaur rode the massive corpse down until the top head crashed into the ground, sending him rolling off and into the base of one of the many claw-like prison towers.

“Haha! That is death from above done right!” The triumphant Tirek said with a short laugh. “Suck it, Sparkle, you neurotic nerd.”

“By the Eternal Fires!” A demon exclaimed as he picked his way through the cloud of ash kicked up by the fall of the warden. “You did it! You actually did it!”

“Hail Tirek! Slayer of Titans!” Another cheered. “Truly the Fates favor us!”

"Well done, old chap!" Gordon congratualed as he flew down to join the victorious demons. "Dropped that blighter like a lead war zeppelin."

“Doubt me at you own peril.” The centaur grunted half-jokingly as he picked himself up off the ground and dusted off his armor. “How many did we lose to this bastard?”

A quick headcount was conducted amongst the remaining vanguards. While there were still enough of them to be considered an army, their strength in numbers was greatly diminished. It did not sit well with Tirek to have lost so many against the first foe they came across.

“Corona had better be working on that Hellevator.” The champion said aloud. “We can pick up some fresh troops from the Fields but if we go against the Undying without reinforcements from the depths, we’re in trouble.”

“After taking down this bastard, I don’t see that being a problem.” A hellion said confidently as it kicked the mountainous corpse of the colossus. “Who knows? You may even get a chance to add ‘Theoi-Killer’ to your list of platitudes.”

“Tirek the Theoi-Killer.” The warlock smiled at the idea. "And perhaps 'Equestrian Eradicator' after that."

He was about to give the signal to move out when he and his army were suddenly bathed in a crimson glow. A single burning eye of the behemoth had snapped open and focused on the centaur, driving the lesser demons away by its sheer intensity. He could feel the utter contempt and malice in the deathly glare but did not back down.

“TIREK…” A booming solitary voice spoke from the depths of the beast, sending weak but noticeable tremors through the ground.

“By Ixion, does anything ever just die down here?” The warlock groaned.

“MY DEATH HERE IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE…” The creature replied as if it was stating a fact of the universe. “YOU MAY FIGHT… BUT YOU WILL FAIL…”

“I may surprise you.” Tirek shot back. “I’ve escaped before.”

“AND YET HERE YOU ARE…” The monster rumbled. “YOU AND THESE VERMIN WILL FOLLOW THAT UPSTART INTO DAMNATION…THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE…”

"What makes you so sure?" Gordon asked after he found the nerve to speak.

"YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST TO COMMIT THIS HERESY..." The battered behemoth rumbled. "NO MATTER HOW STRONG THEIR ARMIES...OR CLEVER THEIR SCHEMES...THEY ALL HAVE FAILED..."

“I’ve heard enough.” The warlock raised an arm and blasted the beast one last time.

The glowing eye exploded in a torrent of pitch black blood and the warden was finally silenced. With a derisive snort, Tirek turned his back on the colossal corpse trotted off into the Fields with his shaken vanguards in tow. As the Infernal Queen had suggested, he pressed any wandering demons or imprisoned mortals he came across into his service. Most were more than eager to join forces with the warlock who had slain a Hekatonkheires. The foolish few that remained skeptical or stubborn, however, were unceremoniously dispatched and left behind for scavengers to pick over. By the time they reached the last stretch of the Fields before the ruins of the Brass Gates, the crimson centaur’s army had nearly doubled in size, more than making up for the casualties suffered under the warden.

“I heard that was your work.” A demon said as they beheld the blasted wreck of the entrance to Tartarus from the cover of a ridge line.

“Indeed, it was.” Tirek said with a hint of nostalgia. “Feels like years ago.”

“Too bad the Undying closed the door you opened almost immediately.” Another said with a sneer. “Efficient dustbins, they are.”

The champion shielded his eyes from the stinging embers and squinted. He could see movement in and around what once were the Gates but nothing much beyond that. The cinders and ash from a brewing hellstorm did not help matters.

“Long shot but did any of you bring a spyglass?” The warlock asked.

“Oh, I did.” One of Gordon's fighters produced the instrument in question, earning a quizzical look from her compatriots. “What? I was a scout before I got sent down here.”

The centaur took the small telescope and scanned the ruins. As expected, the revenants had dug in among the Gates with lines of interlocked shields and extended polearms forming their frontline. Behind them, he spotted numerous archers and mages taking up positions under the direction of a familiar looking unicorn in slightly more ornate armor. Try as he might, Tirek could not place him.

“Do you see Kyl'menus anywhere?” A vanguard asked anxiously. “A few of the stragglers we picked up claim he showed up with elite reinforcements.”

“Not yet…” Tirek muttered as he scanned the armed camp.

After seeing nothing but rows of black armored warriors, skirmishers, and battlemages the crimson centaur was about to write off the Dark Lord as a no show when he spotted a robed figure with a two-pronged staff flanked by a quartet of alert praetorians overseeing the Undying. The pale horse broke conversation with a strange looking group of insectoid equines and seemed to look directly at Tirek through the spyglass. The warlock felt an unwelcomed chill creep down his spine despite himself as he met the cold glare with one of his own. The long distant staring contest ended when the instrument suddenly shattered in the champion's hands.

“Found him.” He grunted as he handed the now useless telescope back to its owner. "He's in an equine form so I guess that makes him the Silent King for now."

“Gods save the King.” Gordon deadpanned. “Well, Her Infernal Majesty named you champion. What are your orders?”

The champion looked across his eager army. The more he thought about it, describing his forces as an ‘army’ was being generous. They were a horde united by a single cause with a few nominal leaders to direct their savagery. There was little to no organization beyond that. He could tell that any strategy or tactics he laid out would be quickly abandoned in favor of bloodlust and slaughter once the battle began. That suited him just fine. So long as he reached the surface, he did not care how many bodies, demonic or otherwise, he had to step on to get there. It was just a matter of firing them up and pointing them at something to kill. The centaur stood atop the ridge and spread his arms wide to gain the hellions’ attention.

"Alright, vanguards, listen up!" Tirek called out. "I'm not talking for talking's sake."

The demons quieted down and looked to their champion, hanging off his every word.

"The so-called Theoi Anax and his band of minions have decided to hold up in the ruins of the Brass Gates." He informed them bluntly. "They are the only thing that stands between us and seeing sunlight again. There is really only one thing to do..."

The vanguards leaned in as if the warlock was about to impart some sage advice unto them.

“Burn…” Tirek rumbled as Titanic magic ignited in the palms of his hands.

Nods and wicked smiles from the demons indicated they shared this sentiment. Those that were able conjured fireballs in their claws and held them aloft in a parody of a military salute.

“MAIM!” The warlock shouted with more intensity as the Rainbow of Darkness glowed and discharged a few errant bolts off his body.

The demons rattled their weapons and cheered at the prospect of the bloodshed to come. A few could not wait any longer and started climbing the ridge. Tirek faced the defenders' lines and pointed a finger at them.

“KILL THEM ALL!!!” The champion roared like an erupting volcano.

With a cacophonous battle cry of hellish screams and blood-curdling snarls, the vanguards of the grand exodus crested the ridge and charged across the scorched Fields. Gordon and his forces, for their part, took to the air to cover the ground forces' advance but did not commit to the attack. As far as the Major-general was concerned, the first wave was not expected to survive and he did not want to waste his fliers assaulting a dug-in and fortified enemy just yet. This mattered little to the demons as they bore down on the defenders, the lust for destruction and the forbidden hope of egress raging in their maddened minds.

“The driving force behind this demonic uprising is the hope of escape.” The Dark Lord explained to an attentive Chrysalis and her offspring. “Take that hope away, consume it, and Corona’s army falls apart making it all the easier for Marshall Armor and the Undying to defeat them.”

"Break an enemy's spirit and the body will follow soon after." The revenant unicorn said sagely. "Hope you're hungry, Chrysalis."

“Well, not quite the feast I was imagining.” The matron gave him a toothy smile. “But I’ll take it.”

“You should also take this.” The stygian sovereign reached into his robes and produced the runic cold iron ring. "Should the opportunity arise."

"Huh. Trixie was wondering what happened to that." The azure magician shivered slightly. "Careful, bug-horse. It's potent."

The matron tried to pick up the ring with her magic only for her emerald aura to fizzle out. With a frown, she manually took it from the pallid pony with a hoof. As she scrutinized the irksome band, she felt a numbing sensation crawl down her perforated leg.

"Anti-magic." Chrysalis hissed. "I'm not surprised you dabble in this craft."

"When the majority of your enemies use magic, it is only logical." The esoteric equine pointed out. "If you keep that away from your own horn, it should not interfere with your shapeshifting abilities too severely."

"Well, that’s encouraging." The Swarm Queen said as she slid the ring into one of the holes in her leg and managed, with some difficulty, to shift into a few disguises and back to test the strength of it.

“That is strong enough to incapacitate an Alicorn so you-” The Necroarch suddenly perked up and looked out into the Fields with a hard glare.

“What? Do you see something?” The robed Elytra asked as she tried to spot what had caught the pale pony’s attention.

“They are here.” The Theoi said with an edge to his voice. “Just beyond that ridge. If you squint, you can see their horns.”

"I see them." Armor confirmed as he shielded his eyes with a forehoof. "By the Sun...less Sky, that's a lot of demons."

“Then that’s our cue to get started.” The Matron said as she took flight along with her chosen elites. "I hope you have been practicing, sweetie."

"Don't worry, I have." The young changeling assured her. "Look the part, act the part, be the part and all that stuff."

“Be careful out there, you two.” The Marshal called after the changelings. "Lot of hate and fire swirling about."

“Aww, you really do care.” Chrysalis teased lightly before she disappeared into the brewing hellstorm along with her daughter and drones.

“The Wary and Skeptical Trixie still does not trust that parasite.” The azure unicorn grumbled to the two stallions. "Deception is in her nature. How do we know this isn't some long con on her part?"

“Chrysalis knows that it is in her best interest to assist us.” The pale pony said reassuringly. “But there is nothing wrong with some healthy skepticism.”

"That's a funny way of saying paranoia." Armor needled lightly. "But you're right. No pony ever died from being too careful."

“Trixie is glad you think so.” The mage smiled. “Which reminds her, what is her role in the struggle against the minions of Corona and Tirek?”

“Magical support.” The Dread Lord answered. “As you are the only one here with access to both Equestrian magic and Khthonic power, you are a potent boon for Armor's forces.”

"To be more specific, you'll be either buffing the Undying or hexing the demons." The Marshal clarified. "It shouldn't be a problem for the mare who bested the Element of Magic in a duel."

“Ah, a challenge worthy of the Great and Powerful Trixie’s skills!” A glint of megalomania shone in the unicorn’s magenta eyes at the prospect of further proving she was much more than a mere stage magician. “She will not let either of you down.”

"I know you won't." The pale horse gave his future Archmage an encouraging smile before she departed to join the revenant's ranks.

"I had a feeling saying that would put a spring in her step." The ashen unicorn said aside once she was out of earshot. "Here's hoping that she can back that ego of hers."

"From what I've seen, the potential is there." The monochrome monarch said as he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The hour of battle is nigh, Grand Marshal. Are you satisfied with your troop deployment?"

Armor did not answer right away as he reviewed his warriors one last time. He had put his skills as a defensive strategist to good use as a wall of shields brisling with spears and halberds formed the frontline. They were to bear the brunt of the demonic assault and deny any cavalry a direct charge. Hidden just behind the former phalanx warriors were firing squads of revenant crystal equines; a ranged, armor-piercing surprise for the hellions. Behind them in reserve were more offensively armed revenants ready to plug any inevitable breaches in the frontline or support the wings. They consisted mostly of great weapon wielding minotaurs and diamond dogs with, as they put it, 'big choppas n' deff smashas'. Unicorn mages and non-equine archers made up the backline while the more swift and agile Undying such as earth ponies and demigriffs stood at the flanks to head off any attempt to encircle them. Above them circled the Erinyes and flight-capable revenants tasked with intercepting airborne hellions and assisting their grounded fellows.

"It's not perfect but it will do." The Marshal answered finally.

"Then all our pieces are in place and Tirek is about to make his opening move.” The Lord of Shades said as he glanced at the distant ridgeline again where he could discern a centaur standing before the horde. “I'll leave you to your troops, Grand Marshal. Bring me victory."

"Yes, sir!" Armor saluted before he rejoined his soldiers.

The revenants gave quick acknowledgment to their leader as he took up a position just behind the frontline. He was not one to lead from the rear unless he absolutely had to but he was not so reckless as to go to the other extreme. There was little sound beyond the slight rustling of armor and weapons and the rumble of rapidly approaching thunder. The late prince-regent was considering rousing his troops with a speech when the Theoi beat him to it.

“Brave souls of the Order!” The Overlord's voice echoed about the ruins. “Take heed!”

The defenders stamped their armored limbs and weapons down once in unison without diverting their attention from the Fields, indicating that they were listening.

“As I am sure you all well know by now, a horde of demons, monstrosities and mortal refuse unlike anything we have ever seen gather in what should be their prison.” The pallid horse continued with an air of disdain. “They seem to think that you all have grown weak and impotent in my absence; that because they were able to destroy the Brass Gates, a blasphemy in its own right, they have a hope of escape.”

A round of indignant muttering and curses rippled through the ranks.

“That is why we now stand here on the threshold of Hell itself.” The stygian stallion spread his forelegs wide. “To disabuse them of this false hope propagated by yet another one of Equestria’s mistakes.”

“One we mean to correct!” Armor called out, earning cheers of agreement from his new brothers and sisters in arms.

“Indeed, what we do this day is more than the mere quelling of rebellion.” The Dark Lord's voice became grim. "No, there is much more at risk. Should we fail here; if the wretches of Tartarus complete their Exodus, all we hold precious is doomed!"

This was met with another round of outraged cursing and grumbled oaths.

"The afterlife will become a corrupted existence from which there would be no escape and those you have left behind will suffer a most unspeakable fate at the claws of these fiends!" The Necroarch exclaimed fervently. “Will you, as both defenders of the realm and former citizens of the world above, allow this to come to pass?!”

“NEVER!!!” Was the unanimous reply along with a rhythmic rattling of weapons on shields and the stamping of armor shod hooves and steel-tipped claws.

A flash of crimson lightning and a roll of earthshaking thunder heralded the hellstorm breaking over the Fields. Ash and cinders swirled in the gales as fire began to rain from the stricken sky. The demons chose that moment to crest the ridgeline and charge across the rocky ground in a mass of vicious snarls and gnashing teeth. The Dark Lord paused for a moment to regard the approaching horde with a look of pure contempt before he concluded his speech.

“As your sovereign Lord, I charge you, revenants, daemons and mortal alike with the complete annihilation of these heretical fools!” He proclaimed. “They have rejected our dominion and will now reap our malediction!"

“GLORY IN DEATH!!!” The warcry was shouted in one unified voice as the Undying stared down the demonic tidal wave.

While the frontline braced for the inevitable clash, the unicorns in the back got to work. The mages formed circles of three with their horns in the middle and began channeling Khthonic power. Spheres of crackling black energy formed between them and grew larger as the Undying fed power into them. On three counts, the unicorns pitched their heads up in unison and lobbed the unstable balls through the acrid air. Despite their lack of accuracy and poor range compared to proper artillery, the mages made up for it with a high arc that did away with the need for a clear line of sight and sheer potency. The ordinance fell amongst the charging demons and detonated with thunderous booms, sending demonic ichor, limbs and gibs flying. This opening bombardment did little to slow the Exodus vanguards as they charged over the craters that were their cohorts.

"Archers!" Armor called out. "Fire at will!"

The more range inclined revenants unleashed volleys of projectiles that joined the death globes as they fell on the hellions. Arrows and bolts flew like the messengers of death they were fletched from into the seething mass of demonic vanguards. Those with shields of their own, armor or scaly skin were able to defeat the hail of projectiles but had to slow their advance. The softer demons quickly learned to take cover behind their better-protected kin and answer with projectiles of their own. Fireballs and arcane lances arced through the ash-choked air and into the ranks of the Undying. The craftsmanship of the cyclopes held out against the retaliatory volleys but the same could not be said of the more lightly armored archers. A few were caught by hellish blasts and crumpled to the ground while others had to cease fire and find cover. One enterprising demon decided to take a chance and strike a critical blow by launching a wild ball of fire at the important looking stallion with a crested helm.

“Hmph. I was expecting more from the denizens of Tartarus.” The revenant minotaur quartermaster grunted as Armor simply cocked his head to the side and let the fireball sail past. "I've seen riots in Knossos with more drive."

“This is just the first wave, Hands.” The late prince-regent said knowingly as he watched his would-be assassin catch an arrow to the knee and then the skull for its trouble. “More to test our strength than break our lines.”

"Sounds like some of Trixie's hecklers." The azure unicorn said bitterly. "They will see their folly soon enough."

With that, Armor and Lulamoon stood in line with the former crystal unicorns hidden behind the shield wall. All of them had their horns charged and ready to fire the moment their foes got into range. The late prince-regent could not help but think back to the battle for the Crystal City when the Marked Legions breached the walls, effectively sealing its doom as well as his own. He was not about to let his new home suffer the same fate.

“Shields up!” The Grand Marshal shouted. "Cut them down!"

Like the gunports of a griffon warship, certain revenants raised their shields enough to allow the battlemages to come forward and open fire. A staccato report reverberated off the walls of Tartarus as bolts of Khthonic power slammed into the horde. The black bolts did what arrows could not and penetrated demonic armor, dropping the front runners like bags of bricks. Lulamoon, for her part, drew upon one of her old tricks as a magician and ensnared the more nimble demons in binds of pseudo-sentient rope and ribbons, making them easier targets. Yet the hellions advanced, trampling the dead and wounded with nary a care as they closed the gap between them and the shield wall. The artillery unicorns were forced to fire into the deeper ranks of the horde less they risk hitting their fellow revenants. Their ex-crystal counterparts fired off a few parting shots before they withdrew and allowed the wall to close back up.

“HOLD!” Armor commanded as the demons finally and inevitably crashed against their defenses like waves against the shore.

The Undying dug their heels and hooves into the ground as the fiends impaled themselves on their wicked spears and halberds trying to force their way past. Claws, teeth and weapons raked across their armor in an attempt to find purchase and pull apart the wall of shields but as per Armor’s orders, the revenants refused to so much as take a step back. As soon as the momentum of the demonic charge was spent, the warriors gave a mighty heave and shoved off the slavering hellions. Before the mass could refill the gap, the line countered with hacks, stabs and slashes from their polearms. Skulls were crushed and limbs were hewed from revenant and demon alike but the ranks of the Undying held. Like waves upon the shore, the fiends surged forward again only to once more be forced to recede by the steadfast defenders.

"Keep it up, you glorious dustbins!" The revenant unicorn shouted encouragement as another wave was repulsed. "Send these bastards to oblivion!"

"Marshal!" One of his troops called out as a pair of demons vaulted off his shield. "Watch out!"

The rest of the fiends must have put together that the stallion in fancier armor barking orders was important as the jumpers descended on Armor with weapons raised. He rewarded their cleverness by blasting one in midair but its partner brought its sword down on his head. The Marshal's helm defeated the blow but it was still enough to stagger him. Before the demon could follow through, a hulking diamond dog brought his axe to bear and split the fiend down to its pelvis like rotted lumber.

"Pouncy little gitz, ain't they?" Fleabag grunted as he yanked his choppa free. "You alright, boss?"

"Barely felt it." Armor gave the ex-legionnaire a thankful smile.

The incident revealed to the Grand Marshal that the demons were savage but not mindless. It was only a matter of time before they discovered an effective means to defeat their defenses and overrun them. Against such wicked cunning, he could not rely on only one tactic to carry the day.

“Advance!” Armor ordered. "Drive them back!"

The frontline stepped over the fallen, a few taking the time to finish off any survivors with their blades or move injured cohorts to the back, and braced again as the vanguards surged forward once more to repeat the assault. Slowly but surely, the defenders fell into a new rhythm of hold, counter, advance as the archers and mages continued to wear down the horde under a withering hail of projectiles and Khthonic power. It was not lost Armor that in gaining ground against their foes, his troops were being drawn out from the chokepoint in the ruins. As much as giving up a position of strength made his military mind fume, the alternative was sitting on the shores of Tartarus battling the numberless hordes of demons for eternity. Nevertheless, he had to make sure his troops were not forced to fight on three fronts.

"Skirmishers forward!" The late prince-regent ordered as they eventually advanced past the ruins of the Brass Gates. "Cover our flanks!"

Indeed, the rough terrain of the Fields provided only marginal cover for the revenant's flanks and the demons were quick to take advantage of their exposure. The vanguards tried a crude pincer maneuver where most held the Undying's attention at the center while others swung around to attack their flanks. A screen of lightly armored but agile former earth ponies and demigriffs met the flanking forces and waylaid their assault long enough for the second rank to move their battlemages into place and shred them with a hail of nether bolts. Through it all, the ranged exchange between the two armies continued with no sign of stopping.

While the Undying and vanguards of the Grand Exodus settled in for the long grind, the changelings continued to penetrate deeper behind enemy lines. They had to go to ground once the hellstorm broke over the Fields and take shelter where ever they could find it. The small swarm was currently held up in a vacant prison tower that offered a view of their goal.

"Alicorn's sure love their towers." Elytra observed as she peered out at Dis. "I think Corona has them beat with a floating one."

"No better way to look down on the poor peasants they rule." Chrysalis chittered as she joined her daughter at the window. "Alright, sweetie, pop quiz. What is the best way in?"

"Hmm... I see a few windows that we could sneak into." The young nymph ventured which earned a shake of the head from the Matron. "But the best way is for the guards to let us in while we are in disguise."

"Particularly in this scenario." The Swarm Queen nodded. "With Shining holding their attention, I doubt the demons are vigilant to infiltrators like us."

"My Queen and Princess." One of the drones buzzed. "There are demons below. They look injured."

The two changeling royals joined the rest and beheld a small patrol of fiends resting in the shadow of the prison tower. As the drone had said, they were nursing various wounds from slashes to punctures. An evil grin spread across Chrysalis' face as she rubbed her chitinous hooves together.

"Weakened, bloodied and tired." She said deviously. "We could not ask for easier prey."

"Dibs on the one on the left." Elytra mirrored her mother's smile as the shapeshifters emerged from the top of the tower and crawled down the exterior walls like oversized spiders.

"Rrgh! Damn dustbins!" A hellion grunted as it yanked an arrow out of its shoulder. "They must have dipped their ammo in Elysian oils. Fucking burns!"

"You think that's bad?" Another with a pair of ruined wings scoffed. "Try getting your shit pushed in by one of those Fury bitches and then talk to me about pain!"

"Quit your whining!" Their leader snarled. "We're almost to Dis so we can get patched up there."

"We?" One of the demons arched a bony eyeridge. "You look fine."

"I got hit by that blue witch." The relatively intact fiend said defensively. "Some type of acid spell. See? It turned my hair green and everything."

"Nasty little mare, isn't she?" Chrysalis chittered from above the leader.

"Understatement. Where in the world did Pol'y-!" The demon looked up to see the changelings above them with hungry grins. "What the-?!"

With a horrid screech, the insectoid equines pounced on the unprepared hellions. One of them managed to toss a fireball at their attackers but its aim was fouled by a drone tackling it to the ground. The shapeshifters quickly overwhelmed and subdued the injured demons without much fuss and dragged them into the tower.

"I know they were weakened by the revenants but that was pathetically easy." Elytra said as she carefully tapped into an incapacitated fiend's mind in search of sustenance. "Ooh, hope with a joy aftertaste. You have to dig through the hate but its really good."

"These a just vanguards according to this one's memories." Chrysalis explained as she did the same to the green-haired leader. "There are a lot more waiting below and they are much more deadly. Now don't get distracted by food. Comb their memories for anything useful and make note of who they know and their mannerisms."

After topping off their reserves, the changelings went through the process of forming their disguises. The Swarm Queen had learned that simply assuming the forms of their marks would only get them so far and that they needed to act the part as well. She was well aware that if they were discovered, the consequences would be far severe than being cast out of the tower.

"It always feels weird going bipedal." A now disguised Elytra said as she practiced the gait of a hellion.

"Voice." Her mother reminded her with a suitably demonic growl. "How are the rest of you doing?"

"They won't know the difference, my Queen." A drone responded without changing its voice. "I mean- *cough* -Fuckheads won't suspect a damn thing."

"Good." Chrysalis nodded in approval as she shifted into the demonic leader in a flash of emerald magic. "Now what to do with them?"

One of the drones silently answered by drawing a sword from one of their captives and ran a claw over the edge. The Matron realized that as they did not have the time to cocoon the demons and they could not risk them waking up and exposing them. She mirrored her drone's action and picked up a weapon off the leader.

"Elytra, you don't have to watch." The Swarm Queen warned.

"I'm in Hell right now, mom." The nymph deadpanned. "I'm sure I will see a lot worse."

"I just don't want you to grow up too fast." Chrysalis said gently as they went about permanently silencing the demons.

Their preparations complete, the group of 'demons' emerged from the tower and back into the Fields. To their relief, they discovered that their disguises afforded them some protection from the burning rain of the hellstorm. It still stung but they were able to move about without having to fly from cover to cover. Before long, they were standing in the shadow of the floating tower.

"Hey!" The 'leader' called out. "Anyone home?"

"Back already, Kru'zik?" A lookout appeared in a window and waved down at them. "Damn, you look like you went through a meat grinder."

"We bring news from the front, fuckface!" One of the 'vanguards' shouted up at the watchdemon. "Throw down a ladder or something."

"Hey, no need for that, asshole!" The hellion shouted back indignantly. "There's a hole above one of the chains to your left. You can climb up there."

"See you there." The 'leader' gave a short wave farewell before dropping into a whisper. "Dial back the language. The ones from Wrath swear like sailors but you're from Limbo."

"Check." The 'vanguard' nodded in understanding.

A short walk later and they found their way into Dis. A great chain dangling over the yawning abyss connected to the tower just below a fresh-looking hole in the wall. A pair of demon guards spotted the group and waved down to them. Making a note to not look down and to block out the horrific noises emanating from the chasm below them, the incognito changelings ascended the chain and climbed into the capitol of Tartarus.

"The battle appears to be in our favor, my Lord." A praetorian observed as the Order made arduous progress toward the ridgeline.

"Thus far." The Hidden One mused aloud. "But the tide can turn at any moment. Come. We are of little use back here."

After making sure Cerberus and a rearguard were prepared to stop any stragglers from slipping out in the confusion, the Theoi and his giganties entered the Fields of Punishment. As they approached the clashing armies, the pale horse noticed that the skirmishers were beginning to waver under the number of demons pressing in from the sides. While he only had four warriors accompanying him, he knew that they would be more than enough.

"Do you see those demons attempting to surround them?" He asked with an indicative hoof.

"Yes, my Lord." A praetorian nodded.

"I do not want to." The Theoi said pointedly.

"As you command." The armored giants saluted their Lord and split off to aid the beleaguered flanks.

The Dark Lord reached the backlines of his forces just as they crested the ridgeline. As they advance down the opposite side, the demonic vanguards renewed their attacks as their airborne allies joined the fray. The Undying's own airforce led by the Erinyes intercepted the hellions and added another dimension to the battle. It was in this melee of flesh and steel that the Theoi spotted the armored centaur driving his forces forward. At the same time, Tirek noticed the bearded stallion atop the ridge. The two locked glares as they advanced toward each other, ignoring the battle raging around them. The warlock casually blew a revenant skirmisher apart as he tried to run him through. Not to be outdone, the Hidden One effortlessly impaled a demon in midair as it tried to jump him and slammed it into the ground hard enough for it to turn into giblets. Before long, the Infernal Champion of the Grand Exodus and the Dread Lord of Shades stood but a short distance away from each other as the raging hellstorm continued to shower their warring armies with fire and brimstone.

“So, we meet at last, your mute majesty.” The warlock sneered. “I hope you don’t expect me to kneel in your presence.”

“You will.” The Theoi Anax responded icily. “Everyone does eventually.”