But Malthael wasn't someone an individual could defeat. As for Nazeebo, the Witch Doctor had too many escape tricks; Malthael wouldn't catch him. And the Necromancers had Rathma's protection.
"Li-Ming is a genius, Bul-Kathos. She's not as reckless as you think," Johanna laughed. "If she stood before Malthael, she had a plan. And Valla... she'd probably just harass him from the shadows while ensuring her own safety."
"Enough of that. Let's enjoy the festival. I'll be busy soon enough," Bul-Kathos said, quickening his pace. Vorusk's intentions were written all over his face; he knew what the Ancestors were planning. It was a massive undertaking—turning that specific battle into a Rift was no small feat. The sheer number of demons was enough to make anyone sick.
"So, how do we kill Kingpin?" Rumlow asked Matthew (Daredevil), swigging from a bottle. Spider-Man was nearby, wolfing down roasted meat. He looked like he'd been living rough lately. As for his injuries, he was on the Holy Mountain; it would be petty not to let him use a few healing potions.
"You're asking me? I'm struggling with that myself," Matthew replied. Kingpin was far stronger than either of them. Rorschach might help, but it wasn't enough. Matthew was catching up to Rorschach, but Kingpin felt like something else entirely.
"Struggling with your lack of strength, Matthew?" A bright female voice called out. It was Reiko (蕾柯), whom they hadn't seen in a while. Since Raekor (蕾蔻) took over Matthew's training, Reiko hadn't appeared much. Today was a festival, so no training was required.
"It's been a while, Reiko," Matthew said with a forced smile.
"How should I address this lady?" Constantine asked with a grin, extending a hand. He felt this Ancestor looked easy to fool and wanted to squeeze some power or artifacts out of the Barbarians. As a normal human fighting the supernatural, he needed all the help he could get—shrouds, crosses, anything.
"I don't like your scent. It reminds me of scum," Reiko said bluntly, looking disgusted.
"Don't say that. I was the one left over after filtering through a massive crowd. Usually, we call people like that 'Elite,'" Constantine said, unbothered. He was used to insults.
"People filtered out are elites. People left over are trash. Kid!" Reiko patted his shoulder with a look of "pity" and sat across from Matthew. "Back to the topic. You're worried about your strength?"
She grinned. For a Nephalem, getting stronger quickly was easy—especially for recruits. A few legendaries could change everything. Reiko, who knew the legendary item catalogs well, decided to give the kids a lesson.
"Yes. We have a very powerful enemy. Even Rorschach might not be able to defeat that monster," Matthew sighed.
"I trust your judgment, Matthew, though I haven't seen the guy. But I have a great way for you to get stronger," Reiko said mysteriously. She'd pried some info out of Kanuk, and she knew the recruits would love it. "Bul-Kathos is going to open a massive Rift soon. It's full of opportunities to get stronger. You just have to grab them."
She left it at that, teasing them. Her personality was nothing like her legendary ancestor, Raekor. As a Barbarian who died in her fifth battle, she hadn't faced the true darkness yet and still held some idealistic fantasies about fighting demons. She was like an innocent young girl, despite being dead for centuries.
"A massive Rift? That sounds unusual. How do you know?" Matthew asked.
"I'm a Barbarian of the Bull Tribe. I heard it from Chieftain Kanuk," she said with a silly grin. Kanuk was the chief, but he wasn't the only one on the mountain. There was also Raekor... In front of Reiko, Kanuk acted like a doting great-great-great-grandfather, indulging her curiosity.
"Details?" Rumlow was more practical. He didn't care to coddle the girl. He'd realized that not every Ancestral Spirit was a stoic warrior. Their minds were frozen at the moment of death, and while the older ones felt the weight of time, the younger ones like Reiko were different.
"The Siege of Harrogath!" Reiko said.
Rumlow and Matthew listened intently. They only knew Barbarian history from snippets of conversation. They had mostly associated "Harrogath" with the mountain itself.
"Mount Harrogath and the City of Harrogath are different! I originally wanted to be a city guard, but General Qual-Kehk's standards were too high. In this Rift, you'll see projections of famous Ancestors. If you earn their recognition, you can get their Legendaries. And the best part? You can use them immediately! They'll adapt to your current power level!"
Reiko's voice wasn't quiet, drawing the attention of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. They didn't have Kingpin to worry about, but they had the Purple Man to deal with. They needed to get stronger too.
Even Rorschach (who was brooding) and Thor (who was talking to Hela) were drawn toward the gathering crowd.
"I heard that if you survive to the end of the Siege of Harrogath, you can see Bul-Kathos slaughtering every demon in sight! It's rare to see him fight with everything he has. If any of you make it that far, he won't be stingy with the prizes. He's the best blacksmith in the world; he can replicate any legendary to help you on your path."
Reiko beamed with longing. Items from Bul-Kathos's hand were masterpieces, providing massive boosts. "Like Rumlow's First Men Bracers, or Destruction Bracers, Lamentation, Remorseless... he can give them all to you. You have to grab this chance!"
Matthew frowned. A massive Rift, a brutal war... it couldn't be as easy as she made it sound. Rumlow knew that too.
Suddenly, a voice boomed across the plaza, as loud as a temple bell.
"Everyone! Listen up! I am now announcing the festival activity!" Bul-Kathos stood in the center of the crowd, his voice commanding total attention.
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