Chapter 7 - Corpse strewn Void

Time/Place 454 010.M42 / The Spawnhole System.

Reality shuddered as twin Warp Rifts appeared at opposite sides of the System. From one, thousands of Chaos Craft spilled. Ranging from Lumbering Despoiler and Desecrator Class Battleships to swarms of Escort Iconoclasts. It was a Grand Fleet assembled by the Warmasters servants to destroy their foe. The Other rift was a massive gash that slowly widened as it disgorged its creator. The Devouring World had become truly hideous, its surface crawled with legions of Corpse-Beings that guarded fortresses of Bone. Continent Sized Tendrils undulated around its fetid bulk as its colossal Maw pushed through its mantle. It was no longer a lost hungry infant but a great and terrible being that had survived countless attempts on its unlife and strove to devour and destroy the lesser flesh that had dared attack it.

This was truly a grim situation. Three Forces stood against the Task-Force and each other, each powerful enough to wipe out entire sectors. This was a Clash of the Titans and the Imperials were stuck in the middle of it. Chapter Master Gustavus Carl had lived half a dozen centuries and had fought in many truly horrific battles, and he was one of the finest Void-Masters of the Astartes. Yet he knew victory was an impossibility, his Chapter would survive on their homeworld and The Fleet would be honored as Heroes, His duty now in this no-win situations is to make his foes suffer a thousand fold for each Imperial life they took. Gustavus took the helm and prepared his fleet to duel the Giants surrounding him. The Inquisitor's acolytes dragged the suffering Kryptman into the bowels of the ship, for their masters to ply their trade on him and gain the whole truth of the situation.

The Imperial Fleet moved together like a shoal of fish fleeing a shark. The Ring of Hive-Ships moved as one, uncurling from their position around the star. The grotesque flesh-belt preparing to strike as one against the prey appearing before it. Limax's Chaos Fleet was composed of two wildly different forces. The core of the fleet was composed of proud servants of Chaos and ships of the Black Legion, a true fleet worthy of the Despoilers sigil and a symbol of his might. Surrounding the Elites of the Legion was the second half of the fleet. Composed of untold numbers of battered and broken vessels inhabited by legions of the Lost and the Damned. Limax pioneered this strategy of using lesser battle groups composed of Pirates and Cultists as meatshields for his main core fleet.

Like the Imperials, Traitors, and Tyranids The Devouring World prepared for war. Its fetid bulk disgorged huge chunks of rotten flesh that molted grotesque membranes revealing their true form. Space-Hulks infested by the Cannibal Worlds flesh-forms for the purpose of being gigantic twisted escort craft. The World and its Spawn-Hulk escorts bristled with weapons of organic and profane nature. Fusions of Tyranids Biomorphs and Daemon Weapons that dribbled with acid and warp-stuff. The Devouring World had forged itself for war and was ready to crush all who dare face it.

The Battle of Spawnhole truly started with the Devouring World letting loose its Psychic Roar. Its foes had learned how to counter with that particular ability but it cared not, for this was not just an attack but a challenge. A challenge to the supremacy of the Primordial Annihilator and the Great Devourer. This Galaxy was the Cannibal Worlds to consume and its forebearers were naught but morsels it would consume. The Hivemind and the Dark Gods responded in kind. The Hungry Gods were going to war.

Hordes of Tyranids descended on its unholy offspring. Spawn-Hulks and Hive-Ships wrestled in the void, spewing Bio-Plasma and Psi-Bile at each other. (Psi-Bile being the grotesque mix of Warp-stuff, Molten Stone, and ever-mutating Organic Matter that the Devouring World and it's Ghoulspawn attack with.) Tyranid forces descended on the twisted planet in great showers of spores and Winged Bioforms. There they battled Cancerous Flesh-Beasts that manned the Bone-Fortresses and Flesh bastions of Hive-fleet Ghoul. Twin ecosystems of consumption and corruption dueled, filling the void with corpses and chunks of each other.

Taking advantage of the Carnage the Chaos Horde Moved forward its vessels bristling with Lances and weapons of Daemonic origin. Directed Energy and Hellfire were spat across the Void at their target. In response, the maw of the Cannibal Planet opened wide and let loose a blast of Psi-Bile so potent and massive it bisected the Tyranid vessels and kept going till it gouged a line of carnage through the Chaos Fleet. One of the "smaller" tendrils of the Planet reached out and dragged a mass of Hive-Ships into its awaiting Mouth. It let out another triumphant roar and continued its battle with the Tyranids besieging it. With every Lance blast, every gout of pyro-acid the Monster was wounded, but it regrew and adapted its impossible flesh. Nothing seemed to be able to actually hurt it. As the Alien, the Mutant and the Heretic battled the Devouring World the servants of the Imperium searched for an answer.

Time/Place 455 010.M42 / Courage of Carolus interrogation chamber.

Kryptman spat out a wad of blood and tried to continue talking "I am trying to tell you the truth, the Shadow in the Warp no longer clouds my mind, let me AAAAGGGHHH" The Excruciator did its grisly work as Kryptman writhed in agony. Heimdall motioned for the Tech Priest to lower the pain settings and began to speak. "I know traitor, this is just my own little way of ensuring your cooperation and giving me some much-needed catharsis"

Stigler playing Good Arbites asked "Okay moving on, First Question, where did those Tyranids come from? It's nearly an entire Hive-Fleet that we have no documentation of." Kryptman half-muttered "The Hydra Effect, shards of Behemoth, Leviathan and other Fleets that have been destroyed group together and form new fleets. Some shards end up lost in the void, separated from the hive-mind. The Hive-Mind used me to gather these pieces into a new force to attack the Devouring World." The Tech-Priest reported that Kryptman's vitals said he was telling the truth.

"The second question is the origin of Hive-Fleet Ghoul you told us true" Kryptman chuckled bitterly "Yes all true, but with one other detail. Chaos and the Tyranids hate it as much as it hates them. The Dark Gods consider it a usurper and a thief of their property. The Hive Mind views it as competition."

Stigler, sighed and continued "Last question, you said to not allow anything to be contaminated by it, what does it do to things it interacts with?" Kryptman's eyes showed his age for a split second, a split second where fear and horror were visible in the ancient criminal. "It only really affects dead tissue, any non-living organic matter that comes into contact with it or its spawn are subjected to its unique Warp Ability. It injects Warp-Stuff into the corpse, like a bizarre mockery of the creation of a Daemon Prince or Chaos Spawn. Affected corpses are brought into unlife, they mutate and contort into forms that are used for whatever the Devouring World needs. These undecaying, mutating Cancer-Beasts are its ground forces, immune system, and weapons."

Heimdall increased the Excruciator settings and spoke in an incensed tone "what you speak of is impossible, I have set foot on Daemon Worlds and even their such fusions of material and the immaterial were impossible." Kryptman gritted his teeth through the pain and with shuddering sentences said. "This thing has the psychic might of entire Planets worth of sentients at its disposal. It has just begun to discover its potential of Psychic Power. The older and bigger it gets the more it will learn to use these powers to consume and grow. I fear what would happen if it were allowed free reign, maybe it would devour the entire galaxy, making it all become part of its hideous bulk." Stigler began pacing back and forth and said: "Is there truly no way to kill it, is it truly unbeatable?" A voice answered from the shadows of the room "No, there is hope still." Melting out of the darkness Custodes Ephoroi Kyn approached.

Time/Place 455 010.M42 / Vision of Decay, Black Legion Battle-Barge

Limax did not hate the Devouring World, hate was not an emotion known to the followers of Nurgle. He did dislike it intensely though, this thing was blasphemy against Papa Nurgle and the rest of the Dark Pantheon. It's very touch stopped the sacred cycle of decay and created abominations of False-Life that stood against Nurgle's Creed. The Other Chaos Gods and their followers shared similar sentiments. Khorne sought its death, seeing it as the ultimate challenger. Tzeentch viewed it as a threat to his schemes and the ultimate danger, a Wild Card in the winds of destiny. Slaanesh pouted and threw hissy fits at the mention of the creature that destroyed his toys and ruined her fun.

The Ruinous Powers decreed that this threat must be destroyed and great rewards would be reaped by the Champion who slew it. Every servant of Chaos from the lowliest mutant to the grandest Astartes Champion hoped to be rewarded in the quest to kill the Cannibal Planet. This has been an advantage and weakness for Limax's fleet. Entire Warbands flocked to his banner to join the hunt, but he had to deal with almost constant challenges to his authority. Somehow through a mix of bribery, manipulation, and assassination, he had kept his fleet together to strike his colossal Nemesis.

The Void crackled with energy as Lances, Plasma Batteries, and Unholy Kai-Cannons blasted away at the Devouring World. Chunks of Tissue-Mantle were thrown into Space by the sheer destructive force of the barrage. Insane Khorne-Ships slammed into their foe, spewing their Berserker Cargo out before Cataclysmic impacts and seeding the Unliving Planet with deepstriking Warriors of Khorne. The fleet was given careful orders to avoid the Tyranids for they were taking most of the Monster attacks, and delay the Devouring World while Limax's Trump Card was prepared. The Navigator of Nurgle had searched long and hard for a weapon to crush the Devouring World. His efforts had been rewarded and a such a weapon had been found.

Using terrible arcane knowledge and rituals to abhorrent to list Limax worked to summon a servant of the Prince of Pleasure, a monster capable of clashing with the Devouring World. Watching the currents of the warp with his Third Eye and found the perfect moment where the tides of hunger and depravity would shift in his favor. Giving the signal an odd member of his fleet broke off. Not a Warship or escort but a stolen Universe Class Mass Conveyor that had been twisted by Slaanesh. Inside its bowls, millions of cultists devoured each other in a feast of insanity that reverberated in the Warp. This was the final piece of the Limax's profane ritual. Once the Conveyor reached a fair distance from the rest of the fleet its Warp-Engine was ruptured reality was torn open. The psychic signal of horrific Cannibal orgies aboard the doomed vessel was so great it pierced through even the Shadow in the Warp and chummed the metaphorical ocean of the warp caught the attention of Leviathan. Oliensis the Paragon of Gluttony.

Emerging from the newly created Warp-Rift he emerged. Oliensis is one of the more curious residents of the Eye of Terror, a Daemon Prince who is also a Daemon World. Slaanesh's Champion of Gluttony is a Man so utterly impossibly obese that he is the size of a Planet. A Colossal mass of blubber and hunger sworn to serve the Dark Prince. Limax had learned about Oliensis from a group of Noise Marines who entered his service and realized that this Daemon Prince/World might be his best option to defeat the Abomination he hunted. One Devouring World to destroy another.

Oliensis happy to be once again in the Materium Calmly floated through the void towards its next meal. Hive-Fleet Ghoul had focused most of its attention on dueling the Tyranids horde and sent its Escort Flesh-Craft out to deal with this new Threat. Uncurling from its fetal position The Daemon World reached out with a colossal swollen hand to pluck one of the Spawn-Hulks out of the void and force it down his gullet. Entire Fortress of Emperors Children and other Slaaneshi Degenerates lined Oliensis's bulk and they began to open fire on the Devouring World and the Tyranids with Depraved Weapons of terrifying Destruction. Kakophoni the size of Fortresses built into Oliensis's pores unleashed Screams that reverberated in both Reality and the Warp, Entire Bone Cities on the Cannibal Planet were reduced to dust by the Scions of the Phoenician.

The Man-Planet entered its foes orbit and Oliensis reached out with its wretched hands and pulled himself onto his meal. Smothering entire Corpse-Continents under his Daemonic Bulk. His bulbous head lets out a groan of pleasure at being presented a meal of such delicious size. The Tyranid Fleets attempted to attack this new rival but Oliensis's Chaotic Nature and his Legions of Defenders protected him as he began his great feast. The Country Sized mouth of the Daemon Prince slammed into the Cannibal Planet's Flesh-Mantle with the force of an orbital Impact. With the frantic disgusting hunger of one blessed by Slaanesh Oliensis began to feed. Roaring in indignation at this the Devouring World counterattacked. Its own grotesque Maw ripped into the Daemon Prince and shook violently like a Shark grasping its prey. Feeder Tendrils wrapped around the Swollen servant of Slaanesh and pulled him closer in a twisted parody of a hug as the Cannibal Planet's maw gorged on Warp-Flesh.

Twin monsters battled in the Material and Immaterial. Just as the Devouring World ripped away at the summoned flesh of Oliensis it gorged on the Daemon Princes formidable psychic Essence. The Glutton Sphere did the same and the two began a stalemate of consumption and Chaos. The Tyranid and Chaos Ships flitted around this display of supernatural hunger battling each other and The Devouring World. Realizing the source of this new rival Hive-Fleet Ghoul sent its Spawn-Hulks to strike the Chaos Fleet.

Time/Place 456 010.M42 / Vision of Decay, Black Legion Battle-Barge

Limax watched the Spawn-Hulks approach. His fleet had spread out in a long range bombardment formation that exposed them to the Masses of Corruption that barreled towards them. Escort and Attack Craft harried the Hulks as they came close enough to open fire with Psi-Bile blasts and Fang-Torpedos. Taking a deep breath that filled his rotten phlegm-filled lungs Limax began to conduct his forces. Spawn-Hulks fought like Ork-Ships, masses of angry feral tissue that stampeded through Space lashing out at anything that got close enough. The Chaos Fleet weaved about, dodging the Hulks blundering movements thanks to Limax's skill and view into the Warp. The Capital ships continued focusing fire on the Devouring World as their Line Ships and escorts dueled the Spawn-Hulk Fleet. Thankfully lacking the sheer mass and psychic power of their master the Spawn-Hulks could be damaged by the Fleet.

Void Shields protected against the Psi-Bile and Micro-Jumps allowed the Vessels to make last-second escapes from being rammed. Limax directly commanded over three hundred vessels in the battle, he used the full extent of his Nurgle-Blessed abilities to conduct this battle. Alas, no matter the power and skill of a mortal they are still a mortal, and his foes was anything but that.

A Single Torpedo formed from mutated bone was all it took. Limax in all his skill and supernatural power missed a single poisoned fang that struck his capital ship. It buried itself in the Vision of Decays hull and as if some mockery of a Dreadclaw it cracked open and death spilled from its cavity. A Dozen Corpse-Thralls was all it took. These monsters formed from constantly mutating flesh rampaged through the decks. Every kill they made added to their numbers. Not even Pox-Walkers or Plague Marines were saved from Cannibal Worlds influence. While they may be walking corpse their foe was truly undead. Limax continued the battle, reducing Spawn-Hulks to slag and ash even as a vicious war was being raged in the guts of his own ship.

Astartes and Cultists fought Corpse Golems and Thralls. Entire decks were flooded with promethium and Warp-Fyre but all it did was slow the advance of Flesh-Puppets. Khorne Berserkers Hacked away at Living walls of meat, Noise Marines shook the entire ship with their song of insanity. Black Legionnaires who could remember the Siege of Terra bled, died and then rose against their brothers. Slowly other vessels in the fleet were struck by Torpedo or ramming and joined the vicious internal battle.

One by one entire vessel's were lost and became new Spawn-Hulks, with the entirety of the ship's innards being one mass of undead-flesh. Limax carried the battle on even as his Astartes Guards battled the corruption spilling into the Bridge. After 10 hours of this hell, the Chaos Fleet went dark. The main battle mirrored this when Oliensis finally was broken and cast back into the warp. The Dark Gods and the Great Devourer had failed. The Devouring World let out a psychic roar of triumph, before beginning the hunt for the Imperials and its Kin-Slayer.