Location: Dreadnaught, Savathun's throne Ian's POV As Ian strode up to the doors to the throne room, he was gripped by a sense of finality. Once he stepped through those doors, he wouldn't be leaving until his quest was complete. If he died, then so be it. Without hesitation, he pushed the doors open and marched in, Redeemer at the ready, to be greeted by- nothing. The room was empty, save for an imposing throne carved from osmium. The second Ian was inside, the doors slammed shut. The sound of clapping echoed through the air. Ian whipped his head around searching for the source, but he was still alone. Suddenly, there was a crackling noise as Savathun appeared, still clapping. "Well done! You've done exceptionally well, exceeding even my sister's expectations. She thought you would fall long before now, but even I was surprised when you bested Para. You've grown incredibly strong in the Sword Logic through your little crusade. I think you're finally ready to take your place at my side." Ian was confused. He had carved a bloody path through her Walkers, and the Witch-Queen of the Hive was not just congratulating him, but offering him a position of power? "Why are you praising me? I slaughtered your lieutenants, yet you're offering me power?" "But of course. You killed them, thus proving that they were unworthy to be part of the Last True Shape. Their failures have been purged from this universe. To prove that such powerful beings were not worthy of life merits a seat at my High Coven, and you have earned that honor in it's entirety." Ian didn't know how to feel. On one hand, he was horrified that his actions merited approval from one of the darkest creatures in the universe. On the other hand, such an offer was intoxicating, and Savathun had already given him a taste of the power he would receive when he had been her servant. Then he remembered what he had done as a Walker, why he had killed his friends. They had committed terrible crimes, and he had killed them to stop them from committing more. With that, Ian's course was decided. "No. I won't serve you or your twisted plans." Savathun laughed. "Don't be so hasty, my dear Ian. Even if you were to walk away from this encounter, you have been permanently marked by your actions here. You used your knife to slay Sara and Cameron, along with countless others. Take a moment to observe the weapon now." Ian drew his knife and looked it over. It was far from the pristine condition it had been in when he had first woken up aboard the Dreadnaught. The blade was rougher, more worn, and it had accumulated a number of new scratches. But despite all the damage it had sustained, the edge of the knife was sharper than ever, almost pleading to be embedded into an enemy. It was unsettling. Savathun's voice snapped Ian out of his reverie. "So you see it. The change in the blade. Perfected by endless killing. And the changes can be seen in you, Ian. Reality itself retreats from you in fear. You would be scorned by your brethren, exiled because of your power. Better to stay with me and grow in strength. You know that the Traveler has fled from every system it has cultivated. It is cowardly, weak, like the Light it represents. Those under its protection are equally pathetic, and their weakness cannot stand up to the Sword Logic. Stand with me, and you will not join them in death." Ian stood firm. "It's a good offer, and I'd almost believe you, except for one small facet of the deal. If I accepted this gift, then I would be violating the Sword Logic you hold so very dear. You should know, you made the same mistake when you first accepted your pact with the Worm Gods." Savathun smiled, but there was no compassion or tenderness in it. "Very good. You're smarter than the rest of your friends combined. But if you still reject my offer, than you shall be tested. Prove that you are worthy of life!" With that, Savathun snapped her fingers, and Ian was suddenly stabbed by a sword that had materialized from nowhere. The sword dissolved into nothing, leaving no visible mark, but Ian was still wracked with pain. Savathun floated closer, cackling at the sight of a Guardian suffering at her hand. "Do you like my weapon? Starcutter was forged by my sister for the purpose of slaying champions of the Light such as yourself. I leaves no mark, yet the damage remains. It also strikes at the source of your power, your ties to the Light." Ian gritted his teeth, forcing himself to fight on. "A neat trick. What do you think of mine?" Ian pointed Redeemer's tip at the the Hive god, blasting a searing beam of Light that hit Savathun in the shoulder. The Hive deity roared in some unknown language. She extended her hand out to the Hunter, and Ian was lifted by some unseen magic and brought before her. Savathun snarled, and Ian was hurled the length of the throne room. "Insolent mortal fool! I have destroyed whole star systems by myself! My hordes have extinguished entire galaxies! I am an avatar of death, and you think you can kill me?! This is my Ascendant Realm, where I am strongest!" Ian somehow mustered the energy to stand. "The same could be said of Oryx, and he was slain in his throne world. He fell to the weak, cowardly protectors of Light." Savathun sneered in contempt. "Oryx was a fool to come here. In his haste to avenge Crota, he acted like a rash father, not as a king, and thus he paid the price. Crota had already proven himself to be a failure. But Oryx's death left a void in need of filling, and for that I must thank you. Someone needed to take the mantle of Taken King, and if Guardians wouldn't accept it, then who else should take the power but myself?" Ian's eyes widened as he realized what she meant. "No..." Savathun cackled as a ball of unearthly black fire coalesced in her palm. She then cast the orb at Ian, striking the wall behind him and opening a gate to some otherworldly place. "Yes, it's true. Behold, the power of Taking!" Ian began to struggle as a pale tether of energy gripped him and began pulling him towards the tear in space. But despite his best efforts, whatever force that held him wasn't letting go, and the Hunter was pulled through.