"Seal them."
With the full recall of the Halo Array confirmed by Monitor 000 Tragic Solitude, Selene clenched her fist just as the slipspace portals sealed shut.
Buzz—!
In the next instant, a curtain of imaginary starfire flared around Selene's form.
It lasted only for a blink—an ephemeral spectacle that could be easily missed.
As the starlight veil dissipated, streams of violet-red energy flickered around her hands, tiny motes of astral brilliance coursing across her body.
In the depths of her crimson pupils, a radiant golden halo materialized, her gaze gleaming with an unnatural luster.
The dim void of space seemed to come alive. The nebulous galaxy twisted and writhed like undulating tendrils, swaying erratically within the eerie glow of the celestial shroud.
A foreboding aura spread through the air as a force from the Imaginary Space was slowly drawn forth…
The moment it manifested—
Dull rays of light flickered, instantaneously linking the entire surrounding reality with Installation 00, the Ark, at its core.
Witnessing this phenomenon, even the most advanced artificial intelligences crafted by the Forerunners—Offensive Bias and 000 Tragic Solitude—displayed an unmistakable sense of fear.
They had seen countless unimaginable marvels before. They had beheld apocalyptic-scale events more times than they could count.
The Forerunners had been revered as gods by the San'Shyuum, the Sangheili, and many other alien species that later formed the Covenant—not without reason.
But…
Relying on external technological constructs and wielding such raw, individual power were entirely different concepts.
On the live monitoring screens, under the vast energy surge akin to a collapsing firmament, the surface of the Halo rings was swept by the faintest caress of Honkai energy.
Even with such a light touch, the vast majority of Flood biomass disintegrated instantly—without even a moment to react!
They began to dissolve, to fade away.
Lakes, oceans, rivers, and coastal ecosystems—once perfectly camouflaged by Flood neural networks—were now exposed as grotesque, decayed landscapes.
What had once seemed like verdant plant life now withered at an alarming rate, revealing their true nature.
Wriggling, sickly-green biomass.
The twisted amalgamations resembled both muscular tissue and fibrous plant matter, forming an intricate web across the terrain. The grotesque mass convulsed violently, as if experiencing agony, spewing murky, gas-laden vapors from holes corroded by the Honkai energy.
It shrieked in silence.
First, its disguise was burned away. Then, its very existence was erased. Within moments, the Flood spores and their grotesque amalgamations were consumed entirely, reduced to nothing but scattered ashes.
The U.N.S.C officers turned pale as they bore witness to the Flood for the first time.
So this was the Flood? Disgusting. Were these even lifeforms? They resembled nothing more than enormous parasitic fungal spores.
There was no need to guess—if these creatures could terrify even Forerunner AIs, their infection rate, propagation speed, reproductive capacity, and sheer destructive potential must be utterly nightmarish.
If the U.N.S.C ever had to face these abominations in war, it would be far worse than their conflict with the Covenant. Even death wouldn't be an escape—they would simply be reanimated as part of the Flood's biomass.
It was a horror that violated the body, mind, and soul all at once.
And that purple-red energy… was it some kind of toxin?
They had seen it clearly—under the flood of Honkai energy, the Flood reacted as if being doused in highly concentrated acid.
Then why… why had they been exposed to the same energy on Reach, yet remained unharmed?
Glancing nervously at Selene out of the corners of their eyes, the U.N.S.C personnel instinctively lowered their heads further.
"It really is the Flood… They weren't wiped out after all?"
000 Tragic Solitude's glowing optic fixated intently on the pulsating, sickly green biomass exposed along the coastal regions displayed on the screen.
"Installation 04—Alpha Halo, overseen by 343 Guilty Spark. Installation 05—Delta Halo, overseen by 2401 Penitent Tangent. What are they doing?!"
The other rings were relatively unscathed, largely unaffected by Flood infiltration. However, the state of Installations 04 and 05 was dire.
"How did the Flood manage to spread so deeply?!"
"The Gravemind," Offensive Bias stated simply.
On the monitors, Honkai energy, under Selene's direct control, was now seeping into every aspect of the Halo installations.
The bizarre flora and fauna, along with their flesh and even the ancient Precursor neural networks, were crumbling like fragile glass, rapidly dissolving into nothingness.
Sensing the dire shift in circumstances, the Gravemind—hidden beneath the surface lakes and deep ocean trenches of the rings—reacted with immediate desperation. Even without deep contemplation, it knew that staying put was no longer an option.
Survival was now impossible.
Under its command, legions of Flood biomasses, buried deep beneath the surface, surged upward in an instinctual bid to escape.
What was once a serene landscape now churned like a boiling cauldron, violently disturbed from below.
"Although the reformist Missionary faction activated the Halo Array and purged all life across the galaxy—including every active Flood spore and neural cluster—the protective measures implemented on Installation 00 preserved collected species samples."
"This very safeguard likely allowed certain Flood organisms to evade extermination by hiding within the Ark's designated conservation zones."
The original Halos were conceived thousands of years after the Forerunners' first recorded encounter with the Flood. However, the initial outbreak was seemingly pushed back, largely due to the efforts of ancient humanity.
Of course, the Builders—having solidified their control over the Ecumene Council—advocated for extreme countermeasures, arguing that a weaponized solution was necessary to prevent any possible resurgence of the Flood. Thus, the Halo Array project was proposed.
Despite fierce opposition from the Warrior-Servants, led by the Missionary sect, and the militant Promethean forces, the Builders persisted. Over millennia, they finally secured the Council's approval and began their research.
Forerunner society was divided into specialized roles based on function and societal standing.
These included:
Builders (social leaders, governors, architects)
Miners (resource gatherers, planetary surveyors)
Lifeworkers (biologists, conservationists)
Warrior-Servants (military personnel, strategists)
Juridicals (historians, legal scholars)
The Halo Array was initially conceived as a pure weapon. However, the Lifeworker faction, led by the Librarian, petitioned the Council, invoking the Mantle's core belief that the Halos should serve a secondary function—as biodiversity preserves meant to facilitate post-purge galactic repopulation.
Out of religious devotion to the Mantle, the Council approved the Librarian's proposal, instructing the Lifeworkers to establish a network of self-sustaining natural environments on each Halo ring to safeguard the galaxy's species.
The Builders, surprisingly, also agreed—viewing this conservation effort as a strategic counter to the Missionary sect's Shield World initiative.
However, the Master Builder later modified the original plan. Forerunner researchers soon began constructing clandestine Flood research laboratories, using Lifeworker-acquired specimens for increasingly brutal infection experiments.
"Or perhaps… the containment breach stemmed from experimental Flood samples. Maybe parasitic spores, lying dormant within preserved specimens, slowly reawakened."
"…Or perhaps it was all of the above."
Offensive Bias addressed Selene.
"Your Majesty, the Halo Array doesn't just kill the Flood—it eliminates their food supply as well! Ancient humans, Forerunners, every sentient being in the galaxy—all are sustenance for the Flood."
"The only way to halt their spread, prevent their escape, and ensure their absolute eradication is to starve them. That is the very purpose of the Halo design: the extermination of all sentient life in the galaxy!"
By now, Offensive Bias had fully embraced its new role, acting as Selene's advisor.
"Your Majesty, if even the Halo conservation zones have been infiltrated by the Flood, then the Shield Worlds are likely compromised as well. The Gravemind is cunning—it may have seeded Flood spores on barren planets throughout the galaxy."
"My recommendation: After purging the Halo installations, the Shield Worlds—and the entire galaxy—must undergo a second cleansing. Only then can the Flood threat be permanently eradicated."
Selene's expression remained unreadable.
"I will consider it."
"For now, recall all Monitors stationed on the rings. 000 Tragic Solitude, contact them. I need their precise locations."
"At once!"
Expanding her awareness to scan the entire Halo Array and meticulously searching through Flood-infested zones for Monitors? Not necessary—Selene had no interest in sifting through grotesque mutations.
If no shortcuts existed, she might have reluctantly endured the sight. But since an easier way was available—why bother?
Flood biomass was a revolting sight—slime, jagged fangs, writhing tentacles, and disembodied eyeballs strewn about. Anyone with trypophobia would likely collapse on the spot.
Instead, she intercepted the internal Monitor communication signals, traced them back to their exact locations, and, in a flash, yanked them through space.
"Zzzt—System under attack!"
"Data link severed!"
"Signal traced… Installation 00?!"
….
Seven spherical Monitors, their large glowing optics flickering wildly, were suddenly pulled through a spatial rift and deposited into the control chamber.
These were the overseers of the Halo installations:
Monitor 001 — Installation 01 Administrator
Monitor 007 — Installation 02 Administrator
Monitor 049 Abject Testament — Installation 03 Administrator
Monitor 343 Guilty Spark — Installation 04 Administrator
Monitor 2401 Penitent Tangent — Installation 05 Administrator
Monitor 16807 — Installation 06 Administrator
Monitor 117649 — Installation 07 Administrator
Their optics darted around, taking in their surroundings—Selene, the U.N.S.C personnel, 000 Tragic Solitude, Offensive Bias—processing the situation took a moment. Their sensors flashed erratically.
"Humans? Reclaimers, inheritors of the Mantle?"
Before they could fully react—
"343 Guilty Spark! 2401 Penitent Tangent! What is going on?!"
000 Tragic Solitude's optic shifted from blue to red. "Why has a full-scale Flood outbreak occurred in the conservation zones?! The scale of this infestation—has a Gravemind already formed?! What were you doing?!"
"000 Tragic Solitude, did you summon us… and relocate us here? Are these Reclaimers? Has the protocol been activated?"
"Answer my question first!"
As the administrator of Installation 00, the Ark, 000 Tragic Solitude technically held the same designation as the other Monitors—but its position was clearly superior.
"It doesn't matter. I will deal with the Flood myself."
Selene halted 000 Tragic Solitude's interrogation and spoke. "Monitors, I require all stored data you possess—the locations of Shield Worlds, Forerunner cities, and any other relevant galactic information."
343 Guilty Spark hesitated briefly before responding. "I only retain a partial set of coordinates."
Given that humanity had already arrived here and that 000 Tragic Solitude had recalled them, it meant the Reclaimer protocol had begun. There was no reason for Guilty Spark to refuse.
"That portion of the data was removed before I was stationed here, primarily for security reasons. Though, I must admit, such an information gap is quite displeasing."
Selene silently noted that her suspicion was correct. The final surviving Forerunners, after distributing the Halo installations across the galaxy, had prudently erased or suppressed certain data within the Monitors' databases.
Each Monitor likely only had access to a fragment of the overall star map.
"I will upload the data I possess, Architect."
Nodding, Selene commanded the remaining Monitors, "Upload your star maps and stored records. I need to compile and verify for any missing information."
"Yes." ×6
Following 343 Guilty Spark's lead, the other Monitors stepped forward in accordance with protocol, linking to the control console and transmitting their respective databases into Installation 00's central system.
Offensive Bias immediately began compiling the data within the Ark's systems.
As the process unfolded, 343 Guilty Spark, having completed its upload first, floated closer to Selene.
"Architect, forgive my impertinence. Having remained bound to Installation 04 as per protocol, I was never able to ascertain whether we truly saved the galaxy we destroyed. I missed the opportunity to judge the consequences of our actions."
Guilty Spark's optic flickered as it gazed at Selene, who hovered effortlessly in midair, exuding an air of complete control.
"I have received no external transmissions for 60,000 years. Please, tell me—has the galaxy recovered from its long silence?"
"The fact that humanity has returned to the stars is your answer. Right now, interstellar wars rage across the cosmos."
"Speaking of interstellar wars, that reminds me—Curze's conquest of the Solar System will require your assistance."
343 Guilty Spark's optic pulsed rapidly, seemingly processing the unexpected turn of conversation. Selene chuckled at its reaction before turning away with a smirk.
"It's time to fulfill my promise—to return you all to the galaxy."
Your usefulness here has been exhausted. You're no longer needed. Time to discard the don—wait, no!
Time to send you back to the Solar System, where you can continue to be of service.
"…Eh?"
Dr. Halsey, who had been diligently recording every detail, lifted her head at Selene's words. Her deep blue eyes lowered slightly, a hint of reluctance flashing across them—she clearly wished to stay longer.
"I will transport you all to the Eighth Legion's flagship, Nightfall. By now, Curze's invasion of the Solar System should have begun. The fate of Earth is now in your hands—use your time wisely."
"Curze will not grant you much time."
With that, Selene pressed her fingers together—Snap!
Zzzt—!
A transmission beacon aboard the Nightfall activated, seamlessly opening a portal.
With a casual wave of her hand, Selene dismissed the still-curious Halsey and the others, sending them through the rift.
Straightening up, she turned her gaze back to her newly acquired imperial palace.
Now that everything worth taking had been secured, it was time to retrieve the Shield Worlds and transport them home as well.
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