No, Atriox is Not Dead in Halo Infinite – And He May Return More Dangerous Than Ever

As a long-time Halo fan and gaming enthusiast, I‘ve been eagerly diving into each detail of the epic Halo Infinite. And one of the biggest mysteries remains – is the formidable Banished leader Atriox actually dead as his lieutenant Escharum believed? Based on what we know so far, I don‘t believe Atriox perished. And his return could spell serious trouble for the UNSC and Master Chief.

A Formidable Villain – Atriox‘s Backstory

To analyze whether Atriox survived Halo Infinite, it‘s important to understand his background. Atriox is a vicious Jiralhanae (Brute) warrior, known for his cunning tactics, strength in battle, and seething hatred of the Covenant. He rebelled against the Covenant Empire years ago – an almost unthinkable act for a Brute. But Atriox persevered, surviving execution and exile to establish the Banished – a feared mercenary outfit operating outside Covenant space.

Atriox became legendary, recruiting potent allies and leading the Banished to prominence. After the war with the humans ended, this outsider faction began targeting vulnerable human colonies, slaughtering entire settlements to gather resources and tech. Atriox and his followers are utterly ruthless – making them particularly dangerous foes.

Table: Some of Atriox‘s major conquests demonstrating his capabilities as a strategist and warrior.

So with this background in mind, could such a commanding, seasoned fighter have perished off-screen during Halo Infinite‘s opening events? In my opinion – no. Atriox is far too skilled, ruthless and determined to fall so easily.

Dissecting Atriox‘s Fate in Halo Infinite

Early trailers for Halo Infinite showed Atriox battling Master Chief prior to the game – scenes many fans assumed occurred in the opening sequence. But the final game skipped this confrontation, instead showing the Chief already badly defeated on a debris-strewn Halo Infinite ringworld.

So what actually happened? Based on details gathered from audio logs and cutscenes later in the game, it seems Atriox faced off against Cortana and her "Created" AI army as they seized command of Zeta Halo. The specifics are unclear – the Chief cryptically references his previous fight with Atriox but neither confirms if Cortana intervened nor discloses Atriox‘s ultimate fate.

What we do know is Atriox‘s disciples, the aggressive Escharum chief among them, assume Atriox died fighting Cortana. They proceed to lead Banished forces against UNSC troops scattered across Zeta Halo, seeking vengeance for their "fallen" leader.

However, In a stunning post-credits reveal, Atriox resurfaces unharmed in a secured vault deep below the Halo ring‘s surface. He stands before an ancient cryopod and declares "now the key is found". Atriox then unlocks the pod, releasing shadowy tendrils as an unidentified ancient being presumably emerges.

Deciphering Atriox‘s Enigmatic Ending

This post-credits scene sparks some urgent questions. How did Atriox escape Cortana and where has he been this whole time? What is this mysterious ancient being he‘s freed? And what might his resurgence mean for Halo Infinite‘s future?

Based on the lore revealed about Zeta Halo‘s history so far, the ancient "keys" Atriox references likely relate to the legendary Endless. This mythic alien race was imprisoned within Zeta Halo aeons ago and hold unimaginable knowledge and power. The implications of Atriox gaining control of such primordial beings are deeply concerning.

Atriox unlocking an Endless prison in Halo Infinite‘s post credits (Source: Dot Esports on Twitter)

As to how Atriox escaped both Cortana and the Banished leadership thinking him dead – several theories hold water. Perhaps he discovered clues regarding the Endless and secretly pursued this knowledge for his own gain? He may have intentionally withdrawn to accelerate these obscure plans while Escharum continued battling the UNSC.

Alternatively, maybe Atriox tired of leading the Banished day to day and faked his demise – seizing this chance to instead chase occult artifacts and power for himself. Both explanations would neatly align to his established mercenary nature.

Of course, some intriguing questions remain regarding this arc. How and why has Atriox suddenly resurfaced? What fate befell Cortana if not at his hands? And what dire plans might Atriox have for the mythic Endless being he‘s now freed? The answers remain unclear for now but may relate to the endless-themed audio logs discoverable in Halo Infinite‘s campaign.

Contemplating Atriox‘s Next Moves

While the lack of definitive details leaves room for speculation, as both a Halo expert and worried UNSC ally I have some grave theories about what Atriox‘s survival could mean.

If he has successfully made contact and forged an alliance with the Endless, Atriox may now have access to eons of lost knowledge and an immensely powerful new asset. Even for a cunning brute warmaster, the possibilities such an alliance brings are alarming.

Imagine augmented Banished troops infused with Endless DNA anomalies and reality-warping abilities. Or suppose Atriox shares the Endless‘ mythic insights to craft impenetrable war machines rivaling Forerunner technology. Maybe he plans to deploy the parasitic Endless against humans – an attack making the prior Flood infestation seem trifling?

Any of these scenarios pose an existential threat, perhaps surpassing even the Banished assault rebuffed in Halo Infinite‘s core campaign. And with the UNSC Infinity flagship destroyed and Spartan corps in tatters, humanity has rarely seemed more vulnerable against another surprise Banished incursion.

So in summary – not only do I fully believe Atriox yet lives despite assumptions to the contrary, this ruthless warlord may now wield more terrifying power than ever before. Having bested Master Chief previously and conquered human colonies for years now, an Endless-empowered Atriox could be the apocalyptic threat that finally overwhelms all remaining UNSC defenders. The Chief and allies may have warded humanity from one crisis in Halo Infinite – but Atriox‘s resurgence hints at another devastating war ahead. We must prepare for the worst if humankind hopes to survive.