Incantator Congressus Chapter 28
"Faster!" Jubila roared at his struggling minions, "Faster damn you or face my lash!" Under his feet the chariot rolled on, bouncing over roots and stones. Thin-trunked trees fell before him, smashed aside by the labouring brutes pulling his ride. Faster than any would have thought possible they charged into the scraggy forest, the scent of broken bark and mulched leaves filling his nostrils with every metre. They were making good time, but it was not enough for Jubila, not nearly enough.
Ever since Rebre's flight they had doubled their efforts, driven by fear of Jubila's anger. He had lashed his troops for their laggard ways, berated his Space Marines and gouged the eyes out of any cultist who dared to report failure. Speed had he demanded of his troops and they responded, but it had not been enough, the situation was slipping out of hand and all knew Lord Fulgrim would not be pleased with their efforts. Then at last a break, a high-flying scout had spotted a tiny motion far below and Jubila had diverted all local forces to track the elusive sighting. It had been such a slim chance but it had been all they had, then the word came in from the first squad in the area: the loyalist scum had been found.
"More speed!" Jubila shouted in frustration, "More speed!"
"We'd go faster on foot," Salmacis muttered sullenly, "This chariot is slow and bulky."
"It will go as fast as I want," Jubila snarled, "Else I will flay the skin off their hides, and not in the loving fashion."
Baeghost stroked his Blastmaster as he sniffed, "We could call in more troops."
"I am not waiting a second more," Jubila growled, "I want their heads!"
"A band of powerful Librarians awaits, we should approach with caution."
"I beat them once, I can do so again," Jubila hissed.
There was no more time for talking as the welcome sound of battle rang through the trees. The harsh cries and fierce barks of warriors fighting to the death. Never had the noise seemed so delightful and Jubila's lips pulled back over his teeth as he sensed they were near. Sure enough he spied flashes of colour ahead and drew his pistol and Sabre as the trees fell, revealing the slain bodies of his Marines. For the dead Jubila spared not a moment of consideration, giving his full attention to the band of warriors fighting to stay alive. Librarians, the same ones from the mountain, including that little cur who threw lightning bolts, still carrying the prize on his back.
Jubila bounded over the rail of his chariot, falling a dozen feet to slam into the dirt. His Chosen followed suit, ready to finish this fight once and for all. To his surprise the loyalists did not come about to engage, instead falling back into the trees, cowards that they were, they were going to force Jubila to lower himself to chase after them. He waved his Chosen forward but then one loyalist stopped, turning about to face them. His armour was sculpted into fine musculature and he bore the marking of the IXth's off-shoots. He planted his feet and called out, "Not one more step!"
Jubila waved his Chosen to sweep around and give chase as he called, "I'll deal with this one, get after the others!"
"None shall pass!" the Librarian intoned as he raised his hands and gleams of red power flew circles around his fingers. Behind him a blazing wall of red energy arose, slicing through the forest, dancing like flames and cutting off any pursuit of the fleeing Librarians.
Jubila's nose crinkled as he hissed, "Nice trick but you just signed your death sentence. Well, I was going to kill you anyway but you get the point."
"I am Hyhush, scion of the Charnel Guard, born of the Blood and for the Great Angel's sake I defy you!"
Jubila's eyes narrowed, as he spat, "I smell your spirit, the thirst is growing in you. The curse of your tainted breed is taking you even now. Oh yes, I've faced your kind before and I know all about your flaw. So you seek to end your saga with a glorious sacrifice, a noble and tragic climax to your life, rather than being put down like a rabid beast. Shame it isn't going to happen… kill this idiot!"
A dozen bolters rose, plasma and blastmasters too, and as one they opened fire. A thunderous barrage of shot and sonic flew forth, covering the distance in an instant. Firepower enough to cull a squad of Space Marines converged on Hyhush, surely spelling his doom and it would have, were he actually there. Jubila's jaw fell as the salvo passed through the Librarian, finding nothing but air and flying away without causing harm. The image rippled like a pond in a stiff wind, then dissolved, leaving no trace he had ever been there. Hyhush hadn't been, it was nothing but a trick of light and thought, an illusion to draw the eye while he…
Jubila threw himself aside as a brilliant ray of energy shot in from the left, catching them in the flank from an unexpected angle. A Chosen was struck in the spine and the ray cut straight through him, leaving him flopping helplessly on the ground without any control of his arms and legs. Jubila hit the dirt and rolled, coming up on his feet as a dozen foes charged from the trees, all of them Hyhush.
Illusionary enemies fell upon them, roaring in fury and with death oaths upon their lips. They were indistinguishable, completely identical and Jubila could not tell which one was the real target. He let off another plasma bolt but it passed through a foe without troubling it, merely another illusion. The phantoms fought back by unleashing searing sparks of radiance, that dazzled the eye and left green splodges behind. Harmless in themselves, except that one phantom was real and let off a ray that punched through another Chosen and tore his hearts out. Jubila tried to fix that one in his sight but the green splodges blinded him for a moment and he lost sight of the target.
Salmacis swung wide, duelling phantoms as he yelled, "Which one is he?!"
"I can't tell!" Baeghost yelled as he punched air.
Jubila gritted his teeth and snarled, "He's playing games with us, well two can do that. Baeghost: wide dispersion, fire for effect!"
The Noise Marine obeyed instantly, sliding a control on his Blastmaster all the way then firing into the air. Sonic waves slammed outwards in all directions, washing over the fighters. Jubila's bones rattled and his teeth quivered like bow-strings as the barrage struck him, but it was diffuse and non-lethal, only painful. The Chaos Marines staggered for a moment but the illusions were untroubled, save one who lost a step, almost falling to his knees. Instantly Jubila sprang, pushing through the pain to sweep his sabre down in an overhead slice. It was a good cut, but good was not perfect. Impaired by the sonic barrage his cut missed the head, but it did slice across the front and sear the barrel from the pistol Hyhush bore.
The Charnel Guard fell back as his illusions faded and he held his pistol before his eyes whispered, "Noble Inlustris…"
Jubila recovered himself as the sonic waves faded and he sneered, "Oh dear, you seem to be disarmed. Left helpless and vulnerable, poor little thing."
Yet Hyhush's eyes hardened as he hissed, "I am never unarmed, for I carry the sword of the spirit!"
Hyhush's punched a hand into the smoking remains of his pistol and ripped out a crystal. He held it in his palm and then it exploded into light, a long and tapered shaft of prismatic energy shooting out of his hand, red light tainted with black motes, coalescing into the form of a sword. Jubila barely had time to process that when Hyhush threw himself forward, swinging wildly.
The warlord met the thrust with an elegant parry but was stunned when a follow-up came swiftly after, then another and another. There was no skill to this assault, no careful precision or beautiful elegance. The Charnel Guard was all fury and rage, driven by an inner fire that drove him relentlessly. The glowing sword was everywhere, a whirlwind of attacks that came on without pause. Fury was in his hearts, pushing him to move faster than possible, rage fired his muscles lending him strength and the thirst compelled him to attack ceaselessly, giving no thought to defence. He was on the very edge, Jubila realised, teetering over the chasm of madness. Hyhush wielded all the might of his cursed bloodline and yet retained just enough sanity to call upon his Librarius powers, the most dangerous combination of all.
Desperately Jubila twisted aside from a wild thrust and slashed over the flank, spilling blood from Hyhush's side and yet he was not given pause. The Charnel Guard's furious assault did not falter and his eyes registered no pain. He was falling into the abyss, inured to physical injury, nothing short of a death blow could impair him now.
Jubila retreated, desperately parrying as he called, "What are you all standing around for?!"
"I've got him!" Salmacis called as he tried to stab Hyhush in the back.
The Charnel Guard however sensed him coming; he spun on his foot and spread his free hand wide, shoving it at Salmacis. From his palm sprang forth a glowing net, that ensnared the duellist in a mesh of entangling threads. His arms were pinned to his sides and his legs wrapped in bonds of energy, causing him to tumble into the dirt with a thud. Hyhush was already spinning about but in that moment of respite Jubila rallied. He raised his Charnabel Sabre and chopped downwards, catching the wrist and slicing clean through. The Charnel Guard's hand fell from his arm, taking the crystal with it. Rage or not he would feel that, even the curse of his blood could not compensate for a missing limb.
Hyhush staggered back, clutching his severed stump to his chest. Chaos Marines surrounded him, bolters levelled as Jubila snorted, "Not so tough after all, any last words?"
Hyhush's eyes filled with madness as he growled, "Brother Rogal, destiny calls to me… Horus waits for the final clash... may our father lend me his strength one last time."
Jubila's lip moved to give the order to fire but before he could make a sound Hyhush's eyes turned into obsidian pits that sucked all light from the world. Darkness, total and complete darkness swept over the Chaos Marines, all vision robbed from their eyes. Jubila was left blind, even his Transhuman sight rendered impotent by the total absence of light. He could not see, none of them could and he flailed madly in the dark, unable to tell where the enemy was. Though he was about to find out.
Unseen a massive weight slammed into his chest, barrelling him over and slamming him into the ground. Jubila's sabre was pinned under him and his pistol trapped by an immense weight as his back dug into the dirt. Fists and knees and elbows smashed into him as a terrible smell filled his nostrils, the scent of blood and iron and a gene-reek of taint.
"Die Horus!" Hyhush roared as he pummelled Jubila's trapped form.
"Gerrrof!" Jubila howled as he blindly struggled to free himself.
He heard a snicking sound and his jaw dropped as he guessed what was to come, then Hyhush drove his head forward, sinking enormous fangs into the meat of his neck. The warlord twisted hard at the last moment and just managed to avoid having his jugular ripped open but still the fangs bit deep, tearing tendons and spilling blood everywhere. Hot, wet vitae painted his neck and he screamed in outrage as his flesh was violated.
Hyhush worried the wound, tearing deeper and deeper in an attempt to end Jubila but the warlord heaved madly, shacking him free by an inch. The weight shifted slightly and Jubila sensed the rabid warrior pulling back to try again but in doing so released the pressure on the trapped arm. Instantly Jubila thrust his hand upward, pulling the trigger of his plasma pistol and unleashing a searing ball of fire.
Achingly bright light cut his retina, sinking claws of agony into his nerves. His face burned, skin mottling and peeling off to reveal spots of bone and his lips turned black. Pain, unwelcome and unlovely pain tore through him, trying to end him once and for all and yet through it all he held firm, clinging to the sensation of weight rolling off him. The light faded quickly and Jubila sat up, shaking his head fiercely as he tried to get some sight back. Genhanced cells went to work, piecing his eyes back together, with no small amount of help from the Chaos boons placed in his flesh. Slowly, aching slowly his sight came back and he looked about, seeing what had become of his Marines.
Chosen staggered to and fro, blinking as their eyes were restored. Salmacis was picking himself up, the net trapping him faded slowly as its caster perished. Baeghost was swinging his Blastmaster to and fro, trying to find where the enemy had gone. Jubila could have told him, for prone on the ground lay the corpse of the Charnel Guard, head absent and neck a fused mass of steaming flesh.
The warlord's face burned and his limbs were shaky but he forced himself upright and snarled, "On your feet!"
"A moment…" Salmacis wheezed as he fought to free himself.
But Jubila barked, "We don't have a moment, this one cost us too much time. The others will be getting further away with every second that passes. Get after them; run them down before they slip away! Move or I'll rip out all your tongues… Move!"