Shepard skillfully drives the Mako toward Zhu's Hope. It doesn't take long for them to reach the same point on the Skyway where Joker originally dropped the vehicle.
They arrive at the end of the Skyway and exit the Mako. As the group moves to enter the Tower—to access the ruins leading straight to Zhu's Hope—they spot a strange humanoid figure ahead of them.
It's dark brown in color and eerily resembles a zombie. Its posture suggests it's either asleep or in some sort of stasis. Shepard narrows her eyes skeptically. "That thing wasn't here when we left."
"This is weird… Is this a human? No, it can't be," Kaidan says.
"Careful," Garrus warns.
Disregarding Garrus's warning, Liara slowly approaches it, curiosity lighting up her eyes—until the creature suddenly twitches to life. Startled, she tries to backpedal, only to stumble.
Alex, reacting instantly, draws his [Executioner's Blade R2] and rushes forward.
It's a damn plant-based being… twisted around human DNA. So the right element here would be…
Flames burst across Alex's blade as he activates Fire Sword, slashing in a diagonal arc and cleaving the creature clean in two.
You have dealt 132 + 111 = 243 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have killed Thorian Creeper
"Nice save, Kerber. Liara, cut that out! Don't approach a potential enemy just because you're curious," Shepard scolds, visibly irritated.
"Sorry about that," Liara mumbles, clearly embarrassed. She steps closer to the dead Creeper, examining it. "This is… strange. No amount of infection should be able to alter a human like this. I wonder what's going on. This can't be a colonist, but it resembles humans…."
"Is this really not a colonist? What else could it be? Maybe the infection progressed to this point?" Shepard asks.
"Hard to say what the Thorian's really capable of," Alex replies, "but this was clearly positioned to spot anyone coming from the Skyway. It's a scout."
"You're right. We have to assume the Thorian knows we're coming. Going forward, we're still trying to save the colonists—but if you can't help it, put them down. Also, I might change orders depending on what we find. Everyone ready? Let's go."
The group steps into the garage—and immediately encounters more Thorian Creepers.
Alex strides ahead, unbothered by them.
They remind me of the Husks from Eden Prime—only less durable and less lethal. I can cut them down easily. Better conserve MP. Still, I don't need to fear them.
He slings his large blade back over his shoulder and draws his [Brawler-Pistol] along with the trusty [Enchanted Runeblade]. The Creepers begin to stir as the group raises their weapons.
One of them awakens and rushes towards Alex.
He stays calm, takes aim, and fires with steady precision.
You have dealt 55 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have dealt 53 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have dealt 56 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have dealt 44 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have killed Thorian Creeper
Mindless plant husks. Even I can hit them if they're charging in straight lines like this.
The group cuts down almost all of them—until a sudden spray of gunfire erupts.
You have received 55 damage (blocked by shields)
…
You have received 51 damage (blocked by shields)
Alex quickly dives behind a chunk of rubble, seeking cover.
"Enemy colonists! Kerber, keep these damn plant-zombies off my back! Wrex, Kaidan, Liara—use biotics! Take the colonists out non-lethally if you can!"
"Commander! Leave it to me!" Liara shouts, sprinting forward.
Alex follows her, with Shepard close behind.
A Thorian Creeper hurls itself at Liara, but Alex intercepts it—slashing it mid-air with his blade and firing three rounds into its chest from point-blank range.
You have dealt 59 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have dealt 53 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have dealt 56 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have dealt 56 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have killed Thorian Creeper
Liara, under heavy fire, activates a biotic barrier, pressing forward until she finally reaches the colonists, who continue firing wildly—mindless, erratic, their aim pathetically poor. Their eyes are empty, as if they're puppets, controlled by something else.
She raises her hand and creates a powerful Singularity, hurling it forward, drawing them helplessly into the air. Shepard wastes no time—she tosses one of her prepared grenades into the swirling mass.
Shepard then smiles, and the grenade detonates. A loud pop, a hiss of gas, and the entire group of colonists drops—unconscious—onto the ground.
"Ouch. That'll leave a mark," Alex mutters.
"Follow me! Let's hurry this up!" Shepard calls, waving the team forward as they clear the last Creepers in the garage.
They descend deeper into the tower, pressing through the ruined corridors.
Shepard spots another group of colonists and casually lobs another sleeping grenade at them, knocking them out just as easily.
One, slightly away from the others, barely remains standing—firing wildly.
Alex rushes forward.
The colonist fires his Assault Rifle, landing four shots into Alex's shields.
You have received 51 damage (blocked by shields)
You have received 57 damage (blocked by shields)
You have received 54 damage (blocked by shields)
You have received 44 damage (blocked by shields)
Once close enough, Alex strikes him with a blunt blow to the chest and follows up with a brutal uppercut.
You have dealt 21 damage to Colonist
You have dealt 32 damage to Colonist
You have crippled Colonist (Jaw)
Sorry…
My armor's the only reason I'm not a walking corpse right now. With cheap gear, I'd be full of holes.
"Good job. Let's move on!" Shepard says.
They finally enter Zhu's Hope—and it's in chaos.
Fires burn in every direction. Hundreds of Thorian Creepers shamble through the colony, smoke and embers swirling in the air.
"Alright, team—we move slow and clear. Be careful with the colonists," Shepard commands. "Alenko, Tali—use the stun weapons and aim for colonists! The rest of you—take out these damn Creepers. Kerber, stay in cover unless we're overwhelmed! Your task is to protect us if we're overwhelmed, which hopefully doesn't happen anytime soon!"
The group pushes forward into the burning colony.
Dozens of Creepers awaken and wildly rush toward them. It's like a horde of Plant-zombies rushing at them. Most of the crew members are shocked, even Wrex comments, "I like action, but this doesn't look good! I'll die with Honor!"
"Kerber! I know I said stay back, but we could use a little help right now!"
Alex draws his [Executioner's Blade R2], charging Flying Fira Sword and launching a sweeping wave of fire straight into the crowd of Creepers.
You have dealt 111 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have ignited Thorian Creeper
You have dealt 143 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have killed Thorian Creeper
…
You have dealt 81 damage to Thorian Creeper
You have ignited Thorian Creeper
Alex's mighty attack drains his MP, leaving him tired—but the massive AoE blast has already killed a third of the Creepers, stopped their charge, and wounded the rest. Several catch fire, stumbling and struggling just to remain standing.
Wrex laughs as he charges forward, ripping apart one Creeper with a Warp, pushing aside three of them, and killing another one with his shotgun.
Shepard, along with Tali and Kaidan, focuses on neutralising a group of colonists who continue to shoot at them, while the others mop up the remaining Creepers, Wrex seemingly having the time of his life.
The group slowly begins to cleanse the colony.
Alex keeps hidden until the crew looks like they need help—then charges forward, taking down multiple Creepers with his [Executioner's Blade R2]. Any time he comes under fire from the colonists, he retreats to let his shields recharge before rejoining the fray.
Using this method, the team gradually clears the colony, managing to keep most of the colonists alive.
A few, however, are seriously wounded—and it's unclear whether they'll make it.
Alex eventually leads the team to the entrance of the ancient ruins, guiding them underground. Just as they reach it, a crazed Fai Dan stumbles toward them.
"I… tried to fight it… but…I… sorry"
I remember… this guy will!!
Using Aura, gathering it under his feet, Alex jumps forward and punches the man hard in the chest.
You have dealt 31 damage to Fai Dan
The blow stuns Fai Dan, and Alex snatches his weapon. Alex signals the others, and Tali quickly fires her stun gun, knocking him out cold.
The weapon isn't recognized… too bad.
He then throws away the colonist's weapon.
"Clear!" Shepard calls. "Good job… I think we saved as many as we could. Now let's finish this. Expect more of those damn plant-beings."
They descend into the ruins below—a dark, claustrophobic space lit only by a few flickering excavation lights.
"Activate your lights, everyone!"
Using the built-in functions of their suits, the crew enhances their vision.
As they move cautiously through the ruin, they sense motion in the distance.
A black, brain-like nodule hovers ahead—its insectoid shape held up in the air with massive, twitching roots, stretched out to various parts of the nearby ruins. Beneath it lies a dark pit, leading into the unknown.
This stupid thing really planted itself over a giant pit. It is, in fact, a very stupid plant.
As the group approaches, the creature shifts. It opens a wide, fleshy maw and spits out what appears to be an Asari.
Green-tinted and unnervingly still, the Asari speaks with unnatural calm.
"Invaders. Your every step is a transgression. A thousand feelers appraise you as meat—good only to dig or decompose. I speak for the Old Growth, as I did for Saren. You are within and before the Thorian. It commands that you be in awe."
"You enslaved the colonists—stole their minds. Tell me what Saren wanted from you, or I'll tear your putrid body apart, you stupid waste of a plant," Shepard growls.
The clone answers, "Foolish invader. The Thorian is a piece of this very world, extending across the land and back through the ages. You can no more kill it than cut the sky! Your blood will feed the ground and the new growth!"
Shepard doesn't even let it finish. She shoots it square in the face, sending its body tumbling backward into the abyss.
"Spread out! This overgrown weed's as dumb as I expected," she snaps. Then she begins barking orders. "DESTROY THE ROOTS HOLDING IT UP—SEND IT CRASHING DOWN!"
"Understood!" the team responds.
I can't let that happen. I need to try something risky.
While the others rush toward the outer roots—each one guarded by hordes of Creepers and more Asari clones—Alex runs straight up to the Thorian.
"I'll distract it, Commander! You rush ahead without me," Alex yells through the comms.
He then stands right beneath it and stares it down, the Thorian curiously looking at him, with obvious disgust and a feeling of superiority.
"I've got something delicious for you," he smirks, hurling all of his remaining Annihilation Grenades into its open mouth.
Seconds later, multiple internal explosions rip through the creature. Flames burst from within, and the Thorian visibly spasms in pain. Notifications flood Alex's vision—even the shrapnel is doing small amounts of damage.
You have dealt 111 damage to Thorian
You have dealt 2 damage to Thorian
You have dealt 31 damage to Thorian
You have ignited Thorian
…
You have dealt 91 damage to Thorian
…
Despite the carnage, the Thorian still hangs on.
Alex hurls a [Mark 14 Grenade] into its gaping maw, immedaitely witnessing its insane might.
You have dealt 261 damage to Thorian
Now desperate, the Thorian begins spitting out more Asari clones.
Alex simply steps beneath its mouth and waits. The moment one clone drops out, he kicks her straight into the pit without hesitation, drawing an angry shriek from the Thorian.
Infuriated, the plant-beast unleashes a spore cloud in retaliation—but Alex's suit, reinforced by his still-intact shields, disperses it harmlessly.
He throws more and more [Mark 14 Grenade]'s, no longer holding back.
You have dealt 261 damage to Thorian
You have dealt 241 damage to Thorian
…
You have dealt 271 damage to Thorian
Thanks to Shepard and the others clearing the perimeter, no Creepers are able to reach Alex. Several roots have already been severed—the Thorian is visibly weakening, its body twitching erratically, but it still won't die.
Alex, nearly out of his expensive grenades, can't believe it.
That is my last grenade!! These damn things cost a fortune! I have just wasted more than 100,000 FC! SHIT!
He throws the final one with precision, straight into the beast's throat.
You have dealt 251 damage to Thorian
The Thorian wobbles, only a few roots left supporting it.
FUCKING DIE!!!!!
Alex focuses all his remaining strength and casts Flying Fira Blade, using Ko and draining his Aura rapidly.
A wave of destructive fire tears through the air towards the now panicked and confused-looking Thorian.
The Thorian releases a bizarre noise—like a distorted scream blended with a deep chitter—part agony, part pleading.
He repeats the attack two more times, forcing every last drop of power from his reserves, dropping onto his knees.
You have dealt 171 damage to Thorian
You have dealt 165 damage to Thorian
You have dealt 154 damage to Thorian
You have killed Thorian
Genius Conjurer's subskill: Arcane Medieval Armory activating…
Analyzing battle, enemy, and host. Generating unique skill…
------------------------------------------------
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