"Okay Vulkan," Ahriman started, cautiously backstepping away from the Primarch, "I know this may be a bit of a shock to you, but I really need you to promise you aren't going to go all ork on us! If not for me, then at least for Amity! She's a child, for crying out loud!"
"Don't drag me into this!" Amity exclaimed, similarly backing away from Vulkan.
"Angry?" Vulkan asked, "Ahzek, I am not angry, I am concerned! Do you have any idea how that thing works, Ahriman? That device is charged with the darkest and most unstable energies of the Warp!"
"But it works!" Ahriman insisted, "You still don't understand my plan, Vulkan. By using this door to the third millennium and the magical prowess of the Engine of Woes, I can fuse this dimension with ours! We can sever the Warp's connection to Terra, to our entire galaxy!"
"That just sounds like a really disappointing ending to a children's cartoon." Amity interrupted.
"But Ahzek…" Vulkan replied, staring blankly in deep thought, "How would you humanity survive without our connection to the Warp? The Emperor would not have the powers necessary to guide us across the stars. He would not have had the resources necessary to create the Primarchs, nor space marines like you by extension!"
"Correct." Ahriman dryly replied, "And what do we need a gold-plated tyrant for? How much do you know of the 'Dark Age' of Technology, Vulkan? When humanity ruled the galaxy in an egalitarian utopia! We didn't need the help of psykers, super soldiers, or a man with a god complex! We were only brought down by the debauched hedonism of the Aeldari, but without a connection to the Warp, the birth of Slaanesh and rebellion of the Men of Iron could have never occurred. We could be better than we are now, better than during the days of the Great Crusade!"
Vulkan stared at the floor and pondered for a moment, before opening his mouth to speak.
"Ahzek, you know what this means. If we rob The Emperor of his powers, then it is more likely that not that our existences will be erased."
Ahriman approached Vulkan wordlessly. Once within range, he gripped Vulkan's left arm firmly, albeit without enough pressure to show any sort of malice.
"We were created, Vulkan, as protectors of humanity." he explained, "I won't deny that I have largely failed in that regard. I failed our kind, The Emperor, and my brothers. I have only been driven for these past few millennia to correct my mistakes. And I know that you, Vulkan, take your role as a protector far more seriously than any of your brothers. Especially that douchebag Ferrus."
"You are weak, Ahriman." Ghost Ferrus interjected.
"Oh, son of a… he's in my head now, too?" Ahriman outburst, "Ugh, never mind. My point is that, Vulkan, I know that if anyone would give their own life for the future peace and prosperity of humankind, it would be you."
Vulkan inhaled, and then released a deep, long sigh. He looked up from the ground towards Ahriman, understanding that while death may be incredibly terrifying to one who has known immortality, he was ultimately right.
"Your words are true, Ahzek." Vulkan relented, "If it is for the future of humanity, then no sacrifice is too great. I have but one question, however."
"Anything, Vulkan." Ahriman responded in a warm tone.
"Just what do you think Corvus will make of all of this?"
"I'm sorry…" Ahriman said, his warm tone being replaced with a befuddled murmur, "How is he involved with any of this?"
"Dohohoho!" Vulkan chortled as he brushed passed Ahriman and made his way to the Engine of Woes, "Do you seriously not know? I said that the Engine of Woes was powered by the darkest and most unstable energies of the Warp! What better place to find such powers than from the sad and broody Primarch that doesn't skin people alive?"
Vulkan struck the Engine of Woes with a savage blow that set a thunderous "boom" throughout the chamber. Amity and Ahriman looked on in a mixture of curiosity and terror and after a brief moment a front-facing panel on the device dropped open. This was followed by clanking and thudding noises on the ground, but it appeared nothing had actually fallen out of the device.
A sudden flash of violet light burned from the floor. Once it had receded, the trio saw a body on the ground. His size was not quite so big as Vulkan's, but he clearly possessed a much large frame than Ahriman – who already dwarfed any witch on the Boiling Isles. He worse a shining black set of armor with silvery trim, similar in design to Vulkan's save for the color. A big difference, however, were a set of metallic wings and jet thrusters on his back, as well as long metal talons extending from each vambrace. He had long, black, and oily hair and albino skin – with eyes as consumed with pure blackness as Vulkan's were with red.
"Oh my Titan, there's more of you?!" Amity screamed.
"Is that really Corvus?" Ahriman asked in a frightful stutter, backing closer to Amity, "Why? Why is Corvus here? What is happening?!"
"Ugh…" Corvus groaned, not bothering lift himself from the floor, "Fresh air upon my skin is like the flensing daggers of a thousand-thousand menial urchins going at a sack of potatoes!"
"What is he?" Amity demanded to know from Ahriman.
"He's a Primarch, like Vulkan!" Ahriman hastily responded.
"I don't even know what that means!"
"My existence is fraught with falls and pointless angst in the midst of this disgusting reality…" Corvus rambled in his sorrow-fueled rant, "The light burns! For I have never been worthy to walk in its grace!"
"AH! WELCOME TO THE DAWN OF WAR TUTORIAL BY LISTENING TO ME AND READING THE TEXT THAT APPEARS…" Amity and Ahriman fearfully babbled, backing towards the chamber's exit.
"I'm sad." Corvus continued, "It's too bright. I want to go back in the box."
"Protect us, small child!" Ahriman exclaimed, lifting Amity in front of him.
"Are you serious?" Amity asked, turning her head back towards Ahriman and shooting him a venomous stare, "I STILL HAVE NO CLUE WHAT A PRIMARCH IS!"
"You have literally killed more Primarchs than everyone else in the room combined!" Ahriman pointed out, "I'm out of my element!"
"Wanting to go outside was a terrible idea." Corvus rambled on, "The box does not judge. IT JUST HATES."
"Dohohoho, do not be afraid, my friends!" Vulkan exclaimed in an inappropriately jovial tone, "Why would Corvus ever harm you just for being a traitorous sorcerer and someone who murdered me?"
"Oh hey, look, it's Ahriman." Corvus groaned, turning his attention towards the duo, "And now he's friends with a murderous elf. As if one Iskandar Khayon wasn't enough." Corvus paused and tried to rise to his feet, only to fall back onto the floor, "I'm totally killing you two, by the way, just as soon as I remember how to move my legs."
With that statement, Corvus vanished in another flash of violet light.
"Was… was he serious?" Amity nervously asked, "About the murder?"
"I have no intention of finding out!" Ahriman stated. He rushed to the chamber doors and flung them open with his transhuman strength. He briefly turned back to see if anything had changed, but he only saw the smiling Vulkan with no signs of Corvus. With that, he turned back around and held Amity under his left arm.
"CHEESE IT!" Ahriman exclaimed, bolting out of the chamber.
Amity watched as the walls of the palace zipped by. Ahriman bounded through the corridor with unnatural speed. The duo soon found themselves outside and in the city of Bonesborough, a starlit blackness draping the sky.
"Eda and Luz," Ahriman began without a hint of exhaustion in his voice, "You know them right?"
"Yeah." Amity flatly replied.
"Are you on good terms?"
"I mean…" Amity paused and slightly blushed, "I'm pretty sure that we're…"
"Good enough!" Ahriman exclaimed, his speed remaining on par with a gazelle's, "I'll need you to vouch for me. They may not recognize that I'm Belos, but they still have no reason to trust me."
"What am I even going to say?" Amity reasonably asked, "You tried to petrify Eda!"
"Eh, that's all in the past." Ahriman nonchalantly replied.
"It was two days ago!" Amity angrily pointed out.
"Well, that's just a matter of opinion." Ahriman said, clearly more focused on his path than on the conversation.
Amity could soon make out the vague silhouette of the Owl House in the distance. It grew larger rapidly, and soon Ahriman was slowing his sprint. Once he had reached a complete stop, Ahriman placed Amity feet-first on the ground. The front door was before them, with a snoring Hooty locked in its center.
"Hooty?" Amity whispered, having no effect at first on the snoozing demon, "Hooty, get up! It's Amity!"
"Huh?" Hooty mumbled, shaking himself awake, "Oh, hi there, Amity! Hi there, guy with a really well-defined jawline!" Hooty screeched, "So, how did everything go with the Emperor's Coven?"
"Um, uh, really great!" Amity unsurely answered, "They sent, uh, this guy, um…"
Amit paused as she attempted to think of a name. Hooty was, of course, unphased by this, but Ahriman looked down at her with growing impatience.
"Uh… Big Blue!" Amity said in a nervous outburst, "Yes, this is my friend Big Blue, and he's here to help us find Vulkan."
"Phew, well that's a relief!" Hooty obliviously replied, "Well, why don't you to come on in! I'm sure everyone will be happy to see that you're back safe!"
Hooty opened the front door, revealing a pitch-black living room. Fitting, as it was the middle of the night.
"…Big Blue?" Ahriman asked, raising a curious eyebrow at Amity.
"I'm sorry!" Amity relented, "A lot has happened today, I'm not on my A-game."
"Fair enough," Ahriman said as the two made their way into the Owl House, "Though it might be best to just be honest if we're going to endear ourselves to…"
Ahriman went quite and the duo stopped walked as they saw a figure before them. The silhouette was making its way to the basement door, but similarly halted upon seeing the pair. The figure reached into their pocket, and soon the sound of paper being uncrumpled was heard. After the paper was unfolded the figured tapped it and a ball of white light rose in the room, revealing the figure to be Luz.
"Amity!" Luz gleefully cried, charging at and embracing her friend. The two shared a moment of tenderness before both of their faces were flushed with red. Luz quickly released Amity before speaking again.
"I'm so glad your okay!" Luz exclaimed, regaining her composure, "I was so afraid after you went to the palace and… and…"
Luz trailed off as she realized the two were not alone. She saw the tall figure to Amity's side, standing at a staggering height and with the unmistakable face of a human. The fact another human was here was shocking enough, but after seeing his white, gold-trimmed robes, Luz had a disturbing realization.
"You're… human? Belos is a human?!" Luz cried, "Amity, what are you doing here with Belos?"
"Well…" Amity stuttered, trying to think of how to respond without causing further discord, "What about you? What were you doing awake this late?"
"That is not what we're…" Luz stopped, noticing the portal-door key in her hand. She briefly glanced at Amity and Belos, hoping neither had noticed."
"Wait…" Ahriman whispered before quickly snatching the key from Luz. He observed its make and shaped, his eveys eventually being drawn to the bow that feat a large, yellow eye.
"I know this key…" Belos growled, "You were trying to access the portal!"
"So what if I am?" Luz indignantly asked, "You have no business here and…"
Luz stopped as the lights suddenly flickered on in the living room. A loud yawn could be heard from the back hallway, which prompted the trio to turn and see what had caused the noise.
"Alright," a tired and annoyed Eda asked, grasping her staff, "Just what in the heck is going… on?"
Eda stopped as a dumbfounded expression covered her face. Before her was an irritated Luz, a concerned Amity, and a fun-sized version of Vulkan holding her portal-key.
"Ugh…" Lilith sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "Alright, everyone to the kitchen. If I have to deal with this junk on two hours of sleep, I'm going to need some apple blood."
"That… honestly went better than expected." Ahriman thought to himself.