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“The gateway, like all energy constructs, is a delicate balance. If we can pump enough energy into it, the construct will be disrupted and fail.” Archangel responded to Icon’s question.

“What she said.” Chris tacked onto the end of Archangel’s explanation, hoping not to be outdone by his female “counterpart”.

The new arrivals chimed in, answering Icon’s question. It sounded like a solid plan, and was more of an answer to this crisis than anything he had come up with on his own. He wasn’t sure if it would work, but it was certainly worth a shot. 

[b]”Alright.”[/b] Icon said as he turned toward the massive vortex. [b]”Give it everything you’ve got.”[/b] He finished, his eyes glowing red as he unleashes a powerful optic blast into the heart of the vortex, and the others joined in as well, putting every bit of power that they had into the gaping hole in reality, hoping to bring the carnage that it hat wrought to an end.

However, it seemed that the vortex had other plans. It absorbed the energy that the heroes poured into it, and it continued to spew demonic beings from its bowels. 

[i]This isn’t working.[/i] Icon thought to himself. 

[b]”Everyone, focus! We’ve got to put everything into this. We may not get another shot!”[/b] Icon said as he redoubled his efforts, even as he heard the sound of a speeding vehicle screeching to a halt. 

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Tires screeched as a newsvan pulled up near the nexus point, the swirling portal distorting the color of the sky. A black figure jumped clear of the roof ran onwards, turning to bark orders over his shoulder to the occupants of the van. 

“Find cover!” 

The man in black rushed onwards to a small congregation of people. More than people. 

Overhead dark, figures still poured out from the vortex. A massive snake-like beast spewed forth, while more demons flew out with it. Beasts like nothing on earth flowed through, the problem would be bigger with every second that passed. 

In the center of the unfolding scene, he saw a group of meta humans seemingly pouring everything they had into the nexus, in an attempt to finally close it. Of all the members of the group, the only one that he recognized was the familiar form of an old friend. However, this Icon was not the one that he had known and fought beside. And these were not the heroes that he had been familiar with in his world.

Something new. He hated “new”. Relying on “new” was undesirable to take the least. 

“I can take the portal.” The mechanical voice was steady, unwavering. “Whatever you’ve got in mind could only take longer. Just clear a path.” 

Icon, ever the voice of reason, found a better way. 

[b]“Do what you can to close it. We’ll do what we can to keep them off of you.”[/b] He said as he took off in a blue and silver to deal with the giant snake-like beast. 

The rest dispersed, setting up a parameter around the vortex, looking to dispatch demons where they could, in order to protect Archangel and the man in black. as they attempted to finally close the portal. A giant silhouette screamed between the pair and the portal. 

“Go set your plan up. I’ll take care of that stray demon and have it shut before you could even empty your pockets...” Isaac confidently proclaimed, running towards the figure. 

He lined up his grapple gun with a bolt as he approached, the demon couldn’t see him coming and he hoped to draw its attention and get it to turn, just in time to mash its face with a cross. 

Pok! 

The bolt pinged off its head. The beast turned its head, roaring. Isaac lined up a heavy cross and... 

Kkt. 

Succeeded in doing nothing but knocking a pair of spectacles of its head. 

Something was wrong. Very wrong. What kind of demon wears glasses? Apparently the kind that was considerably shorter than the other demons he’d dealt with. 

The beast smiled. With a human mouth. It glared at him with human eyes. But an untold evil behind them. An evil growing within as every second passed. But maybe not fast enough. 

The beast feigned a punch, and Isaac raised his left hand to block. It grabbed his left hand. Isaac tried to squirm clear. It was strong. Not as strong as the other demons he’d dealt with, but strong enough considering Isaac couldn’t dispatch it so easily. He got most of his hand clear and tried to distract the beast with a hook to the ribs. 

Still no tearing. And the beast had only been toying with him. It still had him by the tip of his finger. A dark grin across his face. 

“Never again will I suffer at the likes of your kind. The sun has set on your era. All bullies will meet their end at the hands of Cain the Fallen!” 

Isaac didn’t have long. Even though this one seemed to have less power and less speed than the others he’d dealt with, it had more than enough of an edge on him. Time for drastic measures. 

The beast started to apply pressure on the finger. Isaac reached above the beast’s head. Smaller horns were beginning to form. Isaac grabbed at one and tore it from the beast’s head. It took a lot more effort than the other demons had. 

It all happened in slow motion. 

Isaac tore the horn from its head with the familiar sound. The beast pulled back on his finger harder in agony. It tore from the Vigilante’s hand, but unperturbed Isaac used the horn to jam the horn into the creature’s own eye. The creature gasped and staggered back... 

But not before backhanding Isaac several metres across the Square. 

Isaac flew in a seated position through a stained glass window. Shattering St Francis Cathedral’s priceless artefact. 

Isaac grabbed at his hand on the ground, trying to apply pressure to stem the flow of blood. His overconfidence left no-one to assist him in handling whatever this is. 

“Demon... Not a demon... Still demonic, but not complete... What the hell is that thing? How?” 

To his right, cowering behind a pew he received his answer. 

“Wasn’t a demon. That was young Frankie Kane,” came the soft words of Father Mulcahy, “he reached out wanting help, but didn’t care for turning the other cheek as advice, I’m afraid. It turns out he’d been stealing things from here... found something else with advice he liked better.” 

Mulcahy’s talent for the understatement notwithstanding, Isaac started to grasp the situation. 

“He did this to himself?” Isaac gasped. 

The Father nodded “He let evil into his heart. Yes.” 

“Turncoat with a demon heart... right. I think I’ve got this now.” Isaac said, formulating a plan not a moment too soon. 

The demon formerly known as young Frankie Kane had seen the pair, and was ominously approaching, beckoning Isaac with his own finger.