The Inquisitor
Chapter XIX
An army of amassing cultists had encroached when every human had ignored my kinder requests. Scowling lividly I bit down on a lho-stick when I had enough entirely, "Start fecking shooting them all for Emperor's sake!" I yelled once exhaling smoke as a crackling roar of las-weapon unleashed rapidly! Swiftly cutting down surging heretics who fell in cries of pain. Throne am I a xeno or something? I just asked you all kindly because this isn't a good time playing stupid, and I really don't want to humor a blitz to get us all killed, or captured!
Howling ear damning shrieks naturally tore asunder sanity to proclaim chants delight, joy and of wild abandon that'd come from daemons who landed musically creating horrid noises. Volley after volley of red beams pierced, or torn apart limbs when throats died mid cry drove after drove of corpses. Shrouds began tellingly forming above, "Move!" I barked shrilly not even humoring to tell every Krieger if we stopped, we'd quicker and by the throne I wasn't happy at all. Nothing was remotely, or even hopefully going to go well as I'd peered into the warp's unseen veil, tearing gradually where an oppressive sense of acidic heat leaked into reality.
Anora and Alicia's unintentional hesitation broke finally much to my wince as bolter fire unleashed munitions going through a series of bloodied splatters. Don't start using them now, please! I psychically pointed out quickly aggravated, I stared mainly in-disbelief when they looked down from both sides as I flicked ash tensely. Daemons, holy ammo and we don't have enough to waste on cultists! Pistols, or chain-swords and you're wearing power armor! Just smash their fecking faces in, it'll help later when daemons really start coming down!
I gnashed both teeth furiously cycling through options hard-pressed, or rather wanted to scream when shrouds shot behind myself. Both Sororita needlessly hesitated before I screamed lividly, "Do it, or we die faster! Please!" Forty Kriegers were advancing slowly, too slowly and yet one hand hastily kept tapping my side noting daemonic signatures rapidly weaving, or sharply maneuver behind masses of flesh acting fodder. Furiously realizing a lho-stick wouldn't appease anxious aggravation I started looking to buildings, or anything remotely suitable to maybe drop enough helpful resources to make this situation moderately fatal.
"Skit!" I shouted over las-guns and bolt pistols being expended with ear thundering chain-swords howling to life, "Get fecking moving! For the Emperor's sake, please!" Angrily I kicked a partially gasping cultists face aside while yanking an auto-pistol from bloodied hands, I began adding shots twitching furiously to aim for knee-caps, or anything useful to turn rushing waves into stumbling grox herds. Wonderful, we stop I know we die, or better yet if we try to defend Skit and Engel's vox caster? We'll die slower! Fecking great I just imagine we'll die slower, if daemons get a bright idea to...oh I love you my Emperor for making feel so alive with joy!
Without even stopping to look back I raised one hand freely. Heat surged forth to send roaring flames narrowed backward, they were within inches of my own face. Expected when said psychic manifestation came striking into shrouds which few backward to reveal convulsing shrieking humanoid daemons. Too late! Shrouded daemons came descending above to deliberately begin distractions, a few I'd not be able to humor, or risk having more appear. Well, we can't stay out in the open. Few minutes they'll shank us in our third ribs, or rush us and just laugh off no matter how many we gun down. By the throne, what a mess!
The Kriegers were effectively pushing us forward as I kept an eye on our back viewing dozens upon dozens of writhing bodies. Daemons tenderly attended to send them on their way, I frowned when they began disemboweling several to parade internal organs happily. Can't resist making a show, feck me! Guess that might work, only way to find out! Peering forward to see hundreds charging ahead of us from various positions all screaming, or lead by daemonic humanoids singing praises in sheer volume to cause a migraine to form partially.
Psychically reaching out I sent another torrent of flame spiraling overhead smashing aside shrouds who'd dissipated upwards in blackened wisps of rage. Engel, aim for knee caps and make these feckers hurt, a lot. These daemons are drawn to agony, so give them a good temptation and we'll make it to a building to get some good things dropping down...hopefully. An auto-pistol crudely clicked having my hand toss it aside as another took the place to begin giving us a lesser chance to die, I soon found out that guess turned out too well. Krieger las-weaponry effectively aligned sent droves to their knees clutching stumps, or partial faces blown apart made it exactly tempting.
Daemonic humanoids immediately cried out lavishly to have serrated claw like limbs tearing men, or women apart to scream in musical unity of wicked pleasures. Move left, no, no, no! Not right Engel, throne but left! I called out irritably to bypass dozens of shrouds rapidly descending as though they'd smelt meals akin to predatory creatures. Daemons are driven by will, purpose and cannot lie to deny what makes them truthfully fulfilled...or else, they'd have ignored it to drag me off. Throne, they haven't tried yet!
Frowning I noticed Skit gradually ascending towards one building where it'd been low enough to reach yet high enough to fire downward. Taking a drag on the lho-stick, I exhaled tiredly realizing we'd have to make do in a reality unable to rationally exist. Feck it, die now or later! I psychically informed every seemingly borderline sane human of another insane task. Engel, get everyone into that building with an open roof top, it's right to our left between several hundred fused Chaos stars. Skit's going to do his thing, with your vox-caster and get something remotely less fatal to do us all a favor, or we're going to have bloody joyful daemons finding us...really, really interesting.
Viciously turning around when tingling sensations caused myself to send another torrential fire incinerating several more shrouds. My entire arm seared internally further accelerating blood into steam as I exhaled irritably again. Please, keep moving and don't stop! I psychically mentioned exhaustively pleading as an eventual volley faded to get us shifting pain strikingly slow to have our backs against buildings. Partially viewing them I noticed graver dangers, if even one daemon manifested internally we'd be fecked by the Emperor's graces.
"I'm going to die." I muttered as I entered an entrance to send flames scorching aside shrouds which tried in vain to lunge joyfully screeching. Just go away, now! Heat alone caused flames to appear around me as I took another long drag calling back to both Sororita, "Alica, Anora! Can you do prayers of protection and litanies of holy sanctuary now, or would you be happier to have daemons making our deaths happen faster?" Their helms whipped backward either out of anger, or maybe relief to understand enough from what I'd learned about blessings. We'd need every Emperor's graced miracle to survive the next minute, or two.
Engel just fortify and hold your ground, oh...send a few up here onto the roofs to make sure Skit isn't fecking around, please. The auto-pistol uselessly got cast aside smashing twisted vases, or portraits of a once humane family into flaming ash. Manifesting smaller yet far deadlier streams of flame I sent crashing through windows sending dozens, or maybe more in balls of wailing agony. They'd stall long enough as shrouds diverted to descend outside give Kriegers precious seconds to do what they'd do best, dig in and thrive in sieges.
Walking up stairs of bloody streams whereas maintained awareness almost made me wish I'd died years ago. Gross, gross and gross! Sloshing liquid and humane flesh aside I kicked open a door where it lead to an open rooftop, "Thank you!" I commented tiredly where another statue of the Emperor stood once majestically. It'd been defiled as flames scorched it clean to have it glower in smoldering white glass, I psychically informed both Sororita to start their faithful calls for blessings immediately. Start your prayer, for the Emperor's will is purified and ready to hopefully answer us...or, I'm really going to pray that much harder to have him not ignore us.
Coming to stand over a railing twisted in decorative intestines infused with ruinous eight pointed stars, or eyes all blood shot from thousands of plucked corpses made my frown deepen. I screamed absolutely aggravated, "Skit!" The lack of a servo-skull really started to make me wish I hadn't been severely stressed witnessing growing mobs, "It's not the time for fecking jokes! By the Emperor's throne, where in the feck are you?" A lho-stick hit hardly appeased an ever burning rage which grew obviously more and more as daemonic shrouds amassed to uplift severed heads, or licked flesh off screaming cultists. But he was no where to be seen at all among this madness.
Kriegers rushed past kneeling to sweep aside gruesome humane body parts and began earnestly firing downward. All five fingers impatiently tapped a thigh burning thoroughly when the vox-caster came to kneel beside myself, "Figure it out! I don't know!" I barked wincing when raising two hands to channel an immense surge of psychic might to literally explode an inferno, it raced and scorched every cultist into one makeshift wall granting us possibly twenty seconds. Fecking funny time to play hide and seek, Skit! Real good of you to show your humor, I appreciate it!
Lasfire snapped unrelentingly as glass shattered with Kriegers viciously defending every entry point, or anywhere possible for swarms of cultists. Not going to last, too many! I peered around pacing to suddenly yell angrily, "By the throne! Skit!" I screamed again to viciously send another striking spear of flame sending more shrouds above back to manifest, I noticed gradually numbers growing akin to clouds and unseen heard cries of desirably joy mixed in with gusts of moans. My frowned twisted into a leering grin to fling both hands upward as psychic energy boil air to have it shimmering potently, "Fecking wonderful!"
Roaring tendrils exploded just above various masked Kriegers who couldn't afford to stop firing and never once missed shots zealously. Yet an entire wave of cultists were surging forward over half dead, or bypassing daemonic humanoids who paraded one, or two severed heads on serrated claws singing twisted praises loudly. Fecking great, last thing I need is a hive block party starting! Sourly noting crude pistols beginning to unleash their own bullets, I psychically dove into Engel's mind practically seething to question lividly.
Grenades! What kind and how many! I fired off to summon another streak of flaming tendrils sweeping aside dozens, or large enough masses who flung themselves around shrieking undeniably seeking an end to immense heat. The master-sergeant down below seemingly kept quiet possibly taking a moment before I heard him relay, eagerly to unleash a suggestion I utterly humored. Proton, smoke and frag for every Krieger grenadier, acolyte. Frag, first?
My expression tightened cycling through possibilities before sneering to harshly decide quickly. Sporadic timed proton, please! You're going to need those frags, later since daemons see through anything not capable to fecking tear up flesh, Engel. Hurry, or we die now! Hundreds bellowed to rapidly sprint forward over corpses, or half alive heretics of their own to trample them to death in a sea of wicked joys. I gnashed both teeth noticing time passing ever so tensed up.
Fed up entirely with Skit's ingenious time to play games, I yelled shrilly biting down anxious impatience for a storm-trooper, "Sigur!" Flinging another flaming barrier which got immediately faint due to blackened wisps simply overwhelmed it, "Get up here!" I shouted down into a slush mix of blood and flesh down stairs, "Fecking now!" I lividly stomped over to an edge of railing aggravated enough to violently stab a mono-knife into a shocked face. Followed by which to crudely slash a series of cultists who'd been trying to climb from below, I stabbed two more having them fall downward and smashing their skulls onto granite audibly.
An auto-pistol harmlessly clacked drenched in crimson as I yanked it free of fingers to fire increasingly enraged. Engel, send two to cover our backs on this fecking roof! Please! I only backed up several steps to send round after round into faces, or throats of cultists who were surged underneath to start securing crudely blackened and orange glowering ladders, "Throne! Not now!" I growled out trying to resist spitting out one lone decent details which smoldered quicker, or rather I was inhaling steadily to ward unnatural heat making sweat sizzle.
Sigur's green optics within his own mask appeared as he brutally sent a bayonet into an eye of one cultist. Said being got sent screaming and fell backward clutching a gaping hole while failed in trying to awkwardly haul herself over. But a knife secured itself by gushing out bright liquid onto a storm-trooper's uniform, "Fecking throne, kid! Nice party you're throwing!" His own weapon joined mine when I bit out harshly not amused, "Tell me about it! I'll need another stick after this one, so don't move and help that Krieger with the vox...please!"
His cackling alone made things remarkably kinder to stomach, "Oh feck! You're really got balls kid, if you want hell reigning down on us!" I rigidly glared with eyes glowering through goggles which were burning partially from an internal heat growing rapidly, "You want to live in the next twenty seconds, do me a favor! Get every fecking gun that is outside to fire everything on top of us, or you'll really...really wish I wasn't trying to buy us more time to survive, trooper." Silence briefly made my anger snap obviously to make it even easier for him, if by the Emperor's grace I didn't kill him by thought alone.
"Don't believe me?" I barked laughing exasperatedly when signatures from beyond mobs of coordinated cultists weren't enough, "Use your eyes and fecking look what's coming down the damned street ahead of us!" He did so momentarily to confirm what I'd been noticing for almost thirty seconds ever since realizing I'd gotten us killed slower, if anything I'd made it easier! But between being stationary, or moving to get blitzed into pieces from daemonic entities, I had little choice save to scream once more for someone to answer me.
I screamed angrily frustrated to have another pistol prominently click dry even as I dove forward slashing wildly, or close to throats sending heretics tumbling to a street. My eyes burned far too unnaturally obviously, especially skin burning liquid which were tears as I heard booming laughter growing louder, "Skit! Where are you?" Glancing above no signs of the servo-skull's metallic and familiar shape were visible, "I'm going to fecking lose it, Emperor preserve me!" I grumbled exhaling vividly struggling to glare irritably when Sigur's yelp confirmed old news.
"Shit, fecking shit! The Krieger wordlessly handed a wire where it'd connected just underneath an exposed jawline, "Fecking move it freak and get some hell reigning down!" Possibly witnessing a motivated storm trooper turned out ironically terrible presently. I slashed one cultist hearing quite easily the most colorful reaction to what honestly been confirmed many hours ago, "By the blasted throne, kid! Fecking shit Russ's of all damned things, you might as well bury us alive since it'll be so much better to breathe!"
I laughed hardly impressed to inhale a lho-stick to glare far too lightly to care considering daemonic shrouds were descending rapidly, "Death is death!" Three lumbering metallic machines once bearing proud aquilla blessed by those who'd placated machine spirits were quickly spotted. They were crude twisted machinations blackened, stained and sporting stakes heads as cultists were waving them forward, or being crushed half-humanoid daemons screeching excessively seduced by blood leaking off tracks. It'd made quite an impression, if anything when inhaling exhaustively to pinch my noses inflamed cartilage.
Bright flashes blinding most started appearing as a near hundred fell writhing and stumbling around when dozens of red beams struck them. Oh, feck! Too early! I grimaced exhaling bluish smoke which glimmered with crimson orange like embers, "Time to turn up some fecking heat, or die quick!" Proclaiming warily to feel numbness spreading akin to fire as I lunged upwards straining openly to hiss far too aggravated feeling nerves incinerating themselves, "Please my Emperor, give me a sign or I'm really going to feel this later."
Thundering claps of heavy bolter fire rapidly ejecting from sponsors of barrels all ear shrieking whizzed over head. More inevitably dipped to strike into an entire building as Sigur complained utterly infuriated, "Ya got ya sign, kid! Enjoy it!" I smirked shaking my head completely at ease knowing I'd burn my blood into steam, or possibly liquid fire when a sphere of fire brightly manifested scorching even those closest to myself physically. Yup there's no mistaking stupidity and obvious fact, fecking amazing since I just know, I'm going to die here on this planet.
Scoffing partially furious I lunged a sphere upwards and formed one triangular gesture with fingers curled as an orange exploded outward. The warp itself was scorched, an unseen weight boiling breaking when streaked across an entire skyline partially obscuring an equally terrified rift incinerating shrouds to send daemons shrieking backward. Akin to lightning save for an ear wrenching squealing dull roar it slammed downwards. Hundreds stumbled, or flung themselves wildly as a golden yellow of swirling and withering flames immediately surrounded corrupted machinations of Chaos, to see only barrels protruding through said manifestation.
All three were engulfed without interference once I strained to laugh aloud exhaling heated embers, "Yeah, I'm a dead man walking." Once undeniable capable machines of war glowered white briefly as liquid metal pooled to make gun barrels snap akin to twigs. Throne, I'm feeling just a tad bit on the crispy side of a grox burger. Standing upright when three massive explosions of ammunition detonating sent shrapnel unintentionally aiding volley's of lasguns, to earn a swift silence descending over arc lightning hissing above! But my eyes trailed downward, to something more alarming and utterly irritating to notice.
What was once pale flesh turning an unnatural reddish bronze and minuscule lines of yellow glowered eerie hot to touch. I grinned shaking myself to exhale tiredly, "Guess getting burned is apart of liking a bit of heat! Fecking wonderful!" Moments later my gaze came to Sigur who had raised his head to call out utterly furious, "Throne, kid! You keep smoking that stick...shit, throne with it! You can have another when ya want too!" I raised said half finished lho-stick partially willingly yet took another drag comfortingly.
Finally something I wanted to hear for...oh, there you are Skit! Metallic glimmering forced my hands to rigidly form an aquilla straining to maintain a calm smile. Yet I failed immensely when bellowing with both hands raised absolutely in disbelief, "Skit! You! Idiot!" I shouted over silence that barely last another second giving me ample opportunity to jump out of sheer insanity, "Wrong building!"
I practically ceased caring to bellow out angrily frustrated, "Fecking wrong building! How by the Emperor did you pick a real fecking good time to joke...you hear me! You grox shitting moron!" The servo-skull's bright eye glimmered from almost a block opposite turning towards my voice. Unable to quell enough anger, or fury I'd barely managed to waved off both hands to physically go beyond flustered to signal vivdly.
Screaming to partially channel psychic might did my voice echo slightly, "I am right here!" Gnashing both teeth I dragged skin and unbelievable understanding to groan loudly, "Throne! Why are you doing this to me again, Skit? Why now of all times, feck!" Unwillingly to curse further I sucked in one lungful of smoke and air to get one last message across as screaming returned earnestly, "Get over here and fecking make my day that much better, please!"
Thankfully for merciful miracles I lamented to witness his small frame gradually getting closer and I noticed an extended antenna. Throne Skit, I'm so...this close to kicking your machine fecking ass and Emperor help me otherwise! I swear I'll...oh, no! Limply I dropped my head physically exhausted to wince to cover both eyes murmuring brokenly, "Sigur...hurry up, please." As expected he'd inevitably sneered to heatedly snap ideally irritated similar, "Throne! Will ya hold on, vox is fecked up and garbling gothic and grox, I can't believe this shit! Since the freak here can't get a lock onto their own frequency!"
My straining smile broken down to genuinely laughing as I hunched over for once happy he'd hadn't gone insane yet. Do me a favor, pray and look up...please. Walking quickly I managed just barely to shank a cultist in his eye, "Thank you!" And punched him as another auto-pistol fell into a hand clenching tightly. Tremors shook internally when I kept consistently inhaling on a lho-stick which kept sanity relatively in place, or hopefully soon enough.
The storm-trooper had inevitably looked upward momentarily to say to me flatly, "Ya better lie, or I'm shooting myself next time, kid." I stared grimacing to see an ever churning skyline expanding akin to jaws extended as a physical mass of blackened wisps were gathering. But wailing cries signaling far more dangers were coming clearer, if anything a ruptured horizon seeing a myriad of red, or orange warp itself meant reality collapsed. Too many, too many are coming...oh feck, feck and throne help me otherwise.
Extending senses outward I hissed in a breath to lividly reveal, "Oh wonderful! More tanks!" I came to stand in seeing distant machination slowly moving from several blocks off, I followed their route and mentally counted down frowning. Less than thirty seconds, or maybe less and we'd be blasted by those not too happy to see other said machines smoldering ruins. Quickly looking over a shoulder I rushed past Kriegers who'd had yet slowed down in their tasks, I gave one a brief slap on his bicep passing by while waving furiously, "Skit! Over here, now!"
The servo-skull descended initially relaying what had transpired, "Acknowledged acolyte, Eius! Vox communication successfully established despite forty six chance of interruption, or possible parameters indicating..." I literally threw up a finger hissing fairly civil to only cut him off, "Skit! Krieger, vox, Sigur and big guns dropping big explosions...now! Please!" He only responded obediently to float past to an almost enraged storm-trooper who came close to mirroring my own thoughts, "Acknowledged! Proceeding to establish vox communications with Death-Korp siege networks, standby for connection and coordinated upload for Astra Militarum authorization as per inquisitorial protocol on your decree, acting-inquisitor."
My body froze when staring upward to react naturally to an unholy temptation simply to pull a trigger and I resisted mightily to exhale casually. Regardless I still heard even my own voice cracking to shrilly spew out kindly, "Throne just please stop telling me everything I already know, Skit!" I twitched to relay my permission, even if I so desired to smash his entire skull into pieces and do it several times over, "You know my answer and I'm tired of wasting time to die faster! Go get it done now, okay...please?"
The mechanical eye glowered brightly as I almost cried happily, "Inquisitorial authorization sent, confirmed and established as per acting-inquisitor's decree. Stand-by for connection!" Another series of white flashes sent droves of cultists screaming, or crying out as another volley bought us several for moments due to an excess of agonized opportunities. Again glancing upward I cringed when an inhumane roaring of twisted laughter, screeching and spine curling praises pertaining to the Dark Prince echoed endlessly above growing closer.
They're really getting pissed at me, I know it! Between the Krieger and Sigur talking rapidly with Skit conveying all necessary details I patiently inhaled deeply, "And here comes the easy part." I muttered knowingly gauging open ground, to where burning metallic husks of tanks and further onward to where another stage prepared itself. Time seemingly loved to give me ample realization to give hope I'd only survive, if I cared little for odds and chances apparently.
Behind I heard crackling to slowly stare indifferently seeing the state of our Emperor's face begin oozing off bloodied tears. Stars of Chaos were gradually appearing crushing our faithful protections and blessings, I winced mainly when it'd began breaking as a holy sanctum's warmth corroded openly. Oh grox shit...that's just great, so they're really pissed at me! Breathing lightly I shook my head eyeing swaths of corpses and half-alive fields which were doing it's intended purpose, to delay and buying us scant precious time itself.
Hundreds were dead, or dying with another equal amount blinded as Engel's precision of grenades effectively made our route feasible. Only thing needed is a shower of miracles! Wonder whose blessed to meet you, my Emperor? I questioned sardonically to laugh internally realizing I'd been betting heavily on myself to get another task done, if only through sheer exasperation to play for blood and have everything on my skin again. I almost felt envious for those who actually cared about others, or even the Kriegers who get their wish soon enough.
"What ya fecking mean you masked grox ass licking freak!" Sigur's thundered disbelievingly to make me frown exasperated yet again, "Throne...fine, I hope ya like getting us killed freak!" He called over grudgingly irritated to reveal someone had received our request, "That Von Agiluf colonel needs to hear you authorize it, kid. Good luck to not get pissed at him, he's more of a stubborn and uptight ass of a grox than Cap is...fecking unreal, I'd say!"
Ironically enough I dropped my gaze smiling while shaking to laugh quietly under-breath all the way until Sigur snorted. He handed off a small receiver attached to cable as a vox-caster cleared enough interference to have ample clarity in stock, "Thank you, korpsmen." I mouthed to be genuinely thankful to see him nod as I spoke flatly, "Colonel? What aren't you capable to understand when I have to say: is level where I'm at with every throne forsaken big fecking gun, to blast this city square and everything into rubble and then make it a crater, at least...for a quarter of a kilometer?"
Von Agiluf's voice remained impassively calm to have me insistently smirk as I heard it through a vox channel, "Death Korp high-command needs a valid reason for resource allocation, acting-inquisitor. Otherwise is it merely a recommendation for them, or I to judge as per prioritization for securing victory in our Emperor's name. It is simply protocol and the will of command. What is your reason, acting inquisitor?"
I idly tapped an auto-pistol against my head replying rather amused, "My reason?" I looked up brightly to see an innumerable amount to give even his superior's motivation and faithful trust. Casually observing I authentically details in informing him quite simply, "Well now, I guess unless you want a warp rift being expanded by a warp gate to grow larger? Dangerously unstable to make reality cease rationally, oh and to actively provide assistance of an going incursion of daemonic beings...to expand their access to the Materium? So do I have a fecking valid reason for high command and to you, Colonel?"
Von Agiluf's voice partially crackled due to static interference, "How long?" I stared mainly while inhaling on a lho-stick to puff out smoke mentally gauging before brightly answering, "Not long! I'm staring at a growing warp rift, colonel and I assure you...I'm not happy right now. Unless you want a horde of daemons cutting your korpsmen into pieces, to make the Materium and Immaterium one glorious place to die and having billions of others damned?" I pondered openly to view said rift imparting sick arcs of lightning to bleed outwards a sky into orange, or reddish mixtures churning violently above.
I inhaled sharply to shudder comfortingly to feel cooler internally briefly, "You get every big fecking gun and more, to do what I say. Make sure where I am standing, what I'm seeing and do every human a blessing in creating a miracle throne forsaken crater, or you fail to serve our Emperor by damning his subjects to Chaos's mercy." My smile hadn't forsaken what naturally occurred, or had revealed itself to thoughts already imagining every scenario. I wasn't even going to humor lies, if truth got my mission completed so much easier.
The line's silence save for static made a leering smile return hungrily curious, "Did you get all that, colonel? Or is the Death Korp going to doubt someone whose not afraid to live, if only to have sin making me wish I wasn't dead." Inhaling another long drag of a lho-stick I stared seeing churning energy and physical deformities arising. More amusingly was earnest in slyly implying enough of truth certainly felt kinder than admitting it entirely as I quoted fondly, "We fight and we die, that's the Krieg way."
An entire horde of cultists and heretical humans had gotten onto their feet collectively being issued orders unheard by most. Not much time left, either! Sensing an ever looming danger when a faint laughter echoed beyond this square, I clenched my fists smiling widely. Now I gamble everything or, die with nothing. What will you lose Agiluf, pride or purpose first? Can't wait to be proven wrong, or the Emperor has judged your Korpsmen already to die meaninglessly.
Seconds passed allowing myself to hear him reply impassively as ever, "Coordinates are marked, set and barrages from regiments within thirty kilometers have been diverted on your decree, acting-inquisitor. I'd advise you, to vacate the area." I looked upward brightly pleased to respectfully mention a little change of plans, "We're not retreating ever, or fleeing colonel. We go forward into death's embrace, I pray for you to find your sins forgiven...for the Emperor protects."
The masked Krieger across an entire battlefields probably smiled approvingly to only convey one promise, "Die well, or die atoned acting-inquisitor." A small peal of static indicated that our deaths would either come to us now, or later on when it'd be harder to wish we'd done so presently. Yet I shrugged internally taking long drag of lho-stick to proclaim brightly, "Time to move, or we'll see our Emperor yet sooner! And to begin...Skit!" I called out pleasantly to have my servo-skull seemingly uplift itself to hover eye to eye with my placid expression.
Staring sternly I spoke slowly pointing to where we'd be going, "You will go to where Tartarus's last known location is at, okay? Don't joke around again with me like you did two minutes ago, I will beg the Onmissiah for strength if I don't tear you apart...don't fecking scare me, or piss me off like that ever again. Understood?" I prompted by gently patting the top of his cranium as my heart rapidly picked up when he as always had acknowledged monotonously, "Acknowledged acolyte, Eius. Proceeding to location as per your orders."
I watched fondly amused to whistle tiredly turning around flippantly mentioning to Sigur, "Fecker scared me worse than a grox learning to purr! Least someone is listening to what I say, Emperor be praised!" The storm-trooper just shook his head calling after me as I motioned everyone to follow, "Ya servo-skulls tend to do fecking strange things, so don't ask me for advice. He's your problem kid, I just shoot and bitch cause it's easier." I agreed mainly because it'd kept me sane enough to think of a dangerous man pretending to be funny, I found it ironic since Sigur's presence just kept me reassured I wasn't mad yet.
Keep your friends close, but enemies closer! I knowingly thought amused to slosh into bloodied flesh and resisted cringing disgustedly. Coming down an ever obvious corroding structure as wisps hissed unseen to defile what little holy sanctuary existed in reality, "Anora! Alicia!" I called out sheepishly embarrassed to see them struggling to stand as blood leaked down from their nasal cavities, "I'm sorry for yelling, but...daemons and time are really difficult to deal with. I apologize if I caused you both pain for giving us a chance, I didn't want to kill our survival yet...if you understand, why I'm apologizing honestly."
Neither Sororita hardly seemed fazed save for their smiles of sheer exasperation to know I wasn't lying to them. Alicia stood upright assisting her fellow sister warily impressed, "It seems our lessons of faith and holiness aren't lost amiss in Chaos's presence, Marcos. Why would I hate you, if only to see our holy mission completed in the Emperor's will?" Resigned to be damned I smiled straining to meekly raise a lho-stick chuckling innocently, "Bad habits?"
Anora warily ceased out banter causing her fellow Sororita to chortle to not even humor to hear games of lighthearted intentions, "That is a discussion when our mission is complete, or we are judged by the holy father. We've always known your honesty is what separates you from most, Marcos so don't fear to garner our hatred, when we've never doubted you." Torn between lowering my gaze, or laughing I decided on walking past grinning warmly to make their answers strained. Leaning against one wall where a Krieger precisely brought down several more cultists, I looked over an entire square to smile genuinely embarrassed.
"You might want to hold that thought for probably...two, or three minutes." I gauged looking upward expecting to hear thunderous booms emitting soon, "I don't doubt your words, Anora. But I think hatred is probably best for moral support." I joked laughing absolutely terrible when I'd known even inside their psyche of a question inevitably asked. I exhaled puffing out bluish smoke to somewhat dampen nerve endings again as flesh hardened underneath my clothing, I'd be incredibly unlucky to survive my hopes in dying quickly.
"Marcos!" Alicia sternly drew out my name to frown partially in recognizing when I'd done something incredibly reckless again, "What by the holy father have you done, now?" I hesitated momentarily trying to smile innocently as Anora sucked in a breath of irritation, "Why can't you change yourself, stupid boy! Holy father of mankind grant us strength, or make us see a new day to spread your light to those woefully aware of themselves! But pray for our wills, to please answer us."
Absently debating whether they'd be approvingly, or possibly alarmed I decided to simply go with indifferent truth alone. I kept staring into the sky brightly grinning, "I got the colonel on vox, told him to do us a favor and level that so we don't have too! He said every gun within thirty kilometers is locked onto our current location, plus..." Anora openly twitched to peer from her helm to where I'd stood just to interrupt me uncharacteristically unfazed, "Thirty kilometers? You ordered a strike with the Death Korps within thirty kilometers to utilize all of their siege assets, all their weaponry and have presently aligning to whose location exactly?"
My gaze looked backed across an entire square absently shaking arms and legs preparing myself to move quickly. I replied mainly honest considering we'd been surrounded on all sides, "Ours. This building, technically!" Alicia's stunned admission followed to have me frown earnestly confused since she'd sounded horrified, "You didn't just order this regiment for support? You actually ordered every Death-Korp regiment within thirty kilometers to fire onto this city, Marcos...am I hearing you without by our holy-father's blessings?"
I inhaled lightly to speak honestly, "Colonel said high-command, or whoever he's been in contact with since we've arrived. So I asked, he conveyed it and they accepted...so, least it brings down that thing without us worrying too much." Immediately several details occurred in various timing, or outright made me frown as if they'd all seen a daemon manifesting. I kept looking at a warp glowering overhead, to stare plainly. Even Engel sharply looked from where he'd been directing fire to stare rigidly and absolutely stationary.
"Marcos." Anora said my name pleasantly happy as I looked up not understanding what I'd done wrong now, "What? Engel's regiment has got enough big guns to level and flatten everything! Don't tell me it's not enough, please!" I panicked partially to stare back at a warp gate as wisps of blackened shrouds gathered distantly to prepare another assault. My headache started to return all too aggravated when Engel spoke up quietly to inform us all.
"High-Command is presently our entire sub-sector directly in charge of planetary theaters of war, acolyte." Genuinely intrigued I gave my attention inhaling on a lho-stick to have him point mildly impressed, "Each regiment is commanded by an entire army-group, each group is within an assigned front of our area of operations. We are strategically positioned in between seven army-group in a ten kilometer zone, each group has roughly between ten to fifteen regiments of adequately supplied munitions for prolonged siege warfare. As you are aware, correct?"
I nodded getting an insight into their inner structure finding it actually impressive, "Sounds like a lot of firepower, so I don't see an issue." Engel nodded accordingly to obediently agree, "Indeed, acolyte. Requesting High-Command is certain prioritization of grave and of most importance, if only you'd understand our regiment alone has enough munitions to level every and single structure to rubble, if restrictions on logistical conversation is upheld. To which it has been most likely rescinded by your authorization..." He seemingly walked away rapidly gesturing for every Krieger to hold fire, to secure their bayonets and most tensed up when all had overhead him perfectly. I looked around sensing arising anxiety, or outright surprise.
Sounds like one regiment has enough do the job, so if I add in what he's said plus almost...uh, oh! I froze physically looking place mid inhale to look again at the sky. Especially when Anora knowingly spoke fairly impressed damning me unblinkingly, "Marcos, I'm surprised about you." I shivered feeling cold to begin gauging what had been said, to what I'd requested and I paled feeling every skin cell cease to function. Oh shit...shit, feck, shit and fecking shit!
"Also primary siege fortification align with weaponry designed to break stalemates are not authorized for they inflict needless and fairly wasteful collateral damages, acolyte." Engel continued without concern to make sure all his grenadiers were secured and aware, "All are built accordingly, positioned and maintained at all times until High-Command deems it suitable to unleash total war! As per Krieg doctrine, consideration of assets and last accounted for, no order for such authorizations have been known to be authentically called in and utilized, for it'd been too wasteful of munitions to wisely favor regiment cohesion for allied support in sieges of various environments. Until exactly thirty eight seconds ago to warrant said restriction...rescinded."
My heart stopped almost literally when I whispered, "You mean every Krieger gun is literally being used on this planet? Because I ordered it?" I was utterly thunderstruck when Engel shook his head, "No, only within thirty kilometers. Last logistical reports indicate an unknown quantity of weaponry, we tend to cycle out newer and proven, if not replace with those on the primary siege artillery lines. But we Kriegers do have a saying, if only just to reassure ourselves and those unfortunate enough to enact said authorization. I expect your objective shall be accomplished, if to save this world and seal these daemonic forces absolutely."
The lho-stick nearly burned to a stub fell out of numbed fingers as I finally understood what I'd never considered. Uh, oh feck...didn't think that far ahead! Looking fearfully past a daemonic rift, I spoke weakly pointing out, "Engel...how many guns do you think will fire?" The master-sergeant regardless of my growing anxiety had seemed indifferent to simply shrug for once as I'd ever seen, "We of the Death Korps do not question, or lose faith of, 'Mauer Der Waffen' doctrine! Take heart to know for we simply know it'll do what you ask, even if it's never used and we've never witnessed it occur! So on behalf of myself and my fellow grenadiers, it'll be fascinating to see it firsthand."
My expression was frozen utterly as a lingering thought seemingly appeared sardonically happy. Fecking Kriegers I, oh throne...I like you guys, too much! Realizing my personal over-sight I started laughing terribly when brightly pointing out a simple problem, "Well praise our Emperor, Engel! Guess that solves our daemon problem, so easy part is running away. Is a quarter of a kilometer ideal for this kind of event?" Willingly entertained I questioned trying to gauge, if half a kilometer would be relatively safe to view said bombardment.
However when Engel replied indifferently to begin angling himself to run fairly in hindsight, "Such estimates are unknown, acolyte! Ideally since 'Mauer Der Waffen' hasn't been authorized in recent memory, if I recall no one definitively understands how much collateral it'd do, so therefore High-Command rescinding such restrictions...will amply provide better insight. So it'd be best secure our survival to testify, hopefully." My eyes were widening to such a point that even a jaw dropped when the sheer scale slammed ironically clear. This was far more dangerously certain we'd die, I just guaranteed myself a one way prayer to the Emperor's side.
Uh, oh...that's wonderful to know, they don't know how big it'll get! I blinked several times to follow suite by angling myself perpendicular to his masked body to directly go towards a square's far end hastily, "Slowing down means death, right?" I clarified to feel an unseen anticipation to which said Krieger replied seemingly again unconcerned, "It is considered an honour of significance if one is ever apart, or is recovered from such unseen orders authorized. Thank you for giving us our purposeful deaths, Marcos...may we die well, or die atoned."
My smile genuinely warmed to know if there was another I called friend it'd be him. I nodded grinning to make even a Krieger smile approvingly, "Don't thank me yet, Engel. We still have to destroy another daemon, so may we die regardless of it now, or in our future to know I'll never forget the korpsmen of Kreig who show no fear of death." His gloved hand placed itself onto my shoulder merely suggesting all too kindly impressed, "Run swift and always in staggered routes! For we might yet live and I might just tell you why I live with sin...boy."
I faced forward bracing instinctual desire to scream, panic and utterly rage for knowing I'd gotten us killed. Yet despite all odds I replied confidently ready to race a man into death's awaiting embrace, "Well I guess it'll be your funeral, master-sergeant." My body tensed itself channeling psychic might to exhale steam far more obviously to smile utterly alive to know I'd die now, or later on when everything matter most for all who I'd never care about. As a faint clasping thundering echo sounded off behind us, I looked towards Engel Aldawin praying for a miracle he'd live.
Cheekily unable to resist knowing I'd run for my life again,"First one to reach the other side gets to tell truth about whatever they wanted to know. Deal?" The masked Krieger chortled quietly to nod in agreement, "Deal." Breathing in deeply I smiled utterly pleased, happy and finally realizing I'd earnestly never forget these men. They were the men of Krieg, who knew no fear of death and they'd never retreat to live with sin yet I only hoped to die without sin, so it'd be interesting to see who ran faster to whose end.
Here come the miracles, we cannot retreat, we cannot escape and I only see one way out! The moment when thundering echos accumulating closest made my smile widen impeccably thrilled, "Stop for nothing, or die! Anyone have a better idea?" I voiced pleasantly an almost innocent question to dispel tension, Sigur and the Sororita held enough will to be partially concerning. Yet no Krieger found themselves concerned save for subtle adjustments for what they'd been dying to live, I would never forget one man among them all and it'd far too kind to refuse.
Does thou speak of ill, or of truth's desire to burn mon'keigh warrior child? An overly intrigued entity whose burning sense of just retribution resonated within my weakening mind. Both cursed blessings of power, or doom had willing observed everything much to a silent amusement I'd been harboring. Speak for yourself, xeno. What have I got to hide, I'm running into death and you're asking whether it's desire, or lies?
One glowing stone subtly burned my chest as another lay dormant subdued by promises of a truth I'd never reveal. Precious moments dictated I'd survive longer, or meet an end forgoing everything to just be forgotten like many dead on this world. Thy lies are commendable, if not just of truth's desire and burns quenching within your soul's fickle inferiority, mon'keigh warrior child. Just of blood, hateful of your ilk and yet you harbor desire to protect...if not of fickle will, or of soil lamenting your stained existence.
I lowered my head tensing up eagerly in hearing roaring thunder screaming upwards as I quietly whispered, "Enjoy yourselves, fecking xenos!" Closing both eyes I felt an undeniable surge of adrenaline equally naturally and enforced by another far more dangerous entity simmering in gleeful anticipation due to tasting blood and ash as per my vow, "Remember you're at my expense! Or lest you forget all too easily?"
The huge hordes of cultists were quickly confused, or outright looking around themselves hearing a roaring growing closer. I peered upwards past a rift to see lights flickering as a blessed rain would so wash everything including them, their filth and myself in an unyielding purification. The Kriegers may have been eager to run among what they'd dreamed to imagine, but I understood one possibility that their leaders may have been eager to oblige. They'd desired to wipe out daemonic foes to test their mettle of pride, of purpose and to seemingly obliterate an enemy with their full might have proved me wrong for a change.
Thou indolent to heed my call, but to be willing to court madness and seeks death is commendable of inferior blood, if in name destined alone. The Phoenix Lord, or whatever of a xeno it'd called itself chuckling far too amused within my psyche. Irritation grew unnecessarily when it's laughter continued gradually stronger, louder and far too musical to be ignored. Even if said sound unintentional caused flames to form along my own fingers, if not forcefully expelling what humane flesh to have it mold to another will entirely.
"Sigur?" I asked simply as he came to stand near me exasperated, "What ya want now, kid?" I didn't even need to turn my gaze while plucking another lho-stick to light it unnaturally. Comfortingly sensations soothed what little control I had to flick ash kindly, "Thank you again!" His cackle seemingly found an old habit far too humorous to enjoy, "Now you go back to bitching, or fecking whatever you want too, but just don't slow down. I'm starting to think you're a grox fecker whose got some heart, or I'd like to think!"
Inhaling deeply to shudder pleasantly appeased I looked over towards Engel who tilted his mask subtly. Deal's a deal, master-sergeant. I'll keep my word, but will you? Psychically inquiring did silence of refined discipline leave me wonder, if only just content to hear an unseen response. There was nothing left to say, or think as roaring thunder descended. Once one fell, it'd kick start a running motivation I hadn't believed to happen since years ago and in those days, I'd been stupidly smug to think it'd change inevitably.
"May our holy-father, our Emperor protect us." Alicia calmly prayed silently for all who'd run among showering miracles as every Krieger lowered their heads once together to angle themselves appropriately. I'm sure without a doubt he protects us alright, but I faithfully believe he also likes to ignore us. I thought far too bemused to inhale lho-smoke as a faint whistling above made my eyes widen to immediately react. Every instinctual urge flared empowered by those who I'd come to call friend, to cherish and genuinely enjoy were backed by one ancient voice far more powerfully dangerous arose, an entity admiring in what had come to be fulfilled. Burn them all, blood and ash, to rain down as per your vow to Khalea Mensha Khaine!
I sprinted akin to what I'd never wish to forget as I screamed brightly to run among death's miracles, "Run, or die! See you all one way, or another!" My legs burned to shoot forward as everyone followed suite when either ignoring, or bypassing cultists who watched stunned unable to understand an innumerable whistling turning into literal absolute shrieking. I never once looked anywhere, or risked losing sight when suddenly veering right!
Thundering booms followed behind an ear wrenching screaming as I got halfway before a titanic explosion smashed just where hordes gathered! Fecking nicely timed hit, Agiluf. Laughing utterly amazed when realizing we'd be next, or seeing a warp gate once ominously looming over head I sneered breathing in rapidly. All too tempted I yelled confidently, "Hope you fecking daemons enjoy the Emperor's miracle and the Death Korp's blessings to dodge what can't be seen!" This dare was yelled when sprinting past shrouds that frozen themselves when that first explosion sent limbs of heretic, or daemon into literal paste.
Another earth quaking flash struck a building off to our far left sending deeply groaning and caving inward sending smoke ascending. I veered left towards said hit as another screaming above slammed ahead just past smoldering ruins of tanks, briefly I saw white flecks scattering everywhere and some had slammed into heretical hordes setting them aflame like grenades thrown. Two more explosions roared behind striking buildings and they'd shattered groaning to send loose debris falling around my route akin to stinging rain. Yet I might as well have been a man seeing water after dying of thirst for days on end.
Nothing will remain standing, no daemon will see another soul taken, no corruption shall spread and none of them will dare believe otherwise! I howled whooping when more shells above descending viciously tearing up earth, stone and metal disbelievingly far behind us. Everyone either driven by proud desire, instinctual fear or outright panic had found themselves as I'd running for a purposeful death being seen in plain-sight. Among sense deafening explosions more rumbling thunder became echoing further away, I found more psychic might to literally dash ahead wiping flames to smack aside cultists coming around our intended corner naturally terrified.
Artillery strikes smashed furiously frequently probably hitting where we'd made our stand to inevitably die one way, or onto a street I saw three tanks halting when cultists manning their turrets looked up utterly horrified, or outright frozen when streaking glints through shimmering sky's illuminating themselves akin to falling stars. I yelled back knowing all, or not heard me warning them brightly, "Don't trip, or you'll see what's coming above! Just don't look up, or you'll won't live long to enjoy it!"
I didn't even need to be remotely afraid of machinations that in any other situation send me reeling anxiously. Yet I wasn't even caring when sprinting in between them making those manning said machines stunned, they witnessed forty three others follow myself and it'd dawned on them. We were running from a far more dangerous event, we'd been getting ahead of friendly fire and ignoring enemies just got us killed faster. Earth quaking tremors sent those unprepared stumbling off their vehicles, or outright fell into panicked fashions. Stay ahead of our miracles, or become one ourselves...what a fecking way to go!
Air shredded angrily above to smash rapidly into a square sending screaming daemons, cultists and other such warnings too late. Ahead of us I saw glimmering stars growing gradually as everywhere glinting lights made my eyes widen. Right...lot of fecking guns, a lot of fecking guns! Pushing through burning sensations of psychic will I looked back pointing forward, "I take it back! We'll live to regret it, I think the Death Korp just gave us a fecking meteor shower! Praise our Emperor, die well or die atoned...for I'll do either!"
Tremors sent loose stone, or anything not built to tumble in between side-streets and collapsed not unable to withstand Krieger destructive engineering. Flashes of light illuminated bloodied buildings oozing, or decorative in human corpses yet I'd ignored them. They would be justly repaid with those who cared not for death, but to absolutely deliver it for those damned, or lost as our Emperor's will was upheld resolutely. That reason along kept my legs gaining speed, ground and never allowing a smile to dissipate as monstrous quakes began in earnest. Buildings distantly behind us groaned, or outright squealed when above more stars gradually appeared.
Way too many, it's just perfect! I reverted to dart left and right, or randomly reversed routinely even knowing we'd been ahead of explosions thundering down into place for minutes on end. I looked back viewing an entire detachment running with all their will, faith and might to just be several meters behind myself. I smiled fondly despite exhaling steam in greater intervals, "Run fast, or die faster." I whispered warmly unable to admit I'd do anything for them, of they were those I desired most not out of emotional needs but of spiritual faith that even the Emperor hadn't forsaken me during days of cold, uncaring and twisted glee.
Thy desires burn thou soul, mon'keigh warrior child. A lord of xenos decreed knowingly bemused as I angled past desolate streets unwilling to break the only option before warp and materium separated in a hail of blessed retribution. I'm human, can't help it and it's nothing really worth mentioning. Esdainn and you are far too similar, I wonder if you'd do everything for ones you cared about...or burn them to deny what is your lie, xeno. My flesh scorched in undeniable agony yet psychic might alone dampened it to a dull burn as a lho-stick cooled ineffectively making time arise to garner itself a price to be paid, a price of blood and will keeping at bay.
Perhaps, or thou inferior flame and blood seeks an end whereas of your ilk, cry out weeping and refuse to grant you mercy, mon'keigh warrior child. Of course a xeno's lies would sound ideally considerate to humor, if only Esdainn's own nature made me seem too shrewdly deceptive. You care not for myself, a being superior and unable to think as I do, so why bother asking pointless details you'd never desire yourself? I'm human, it's what matters and I fecking will do what I want, it's only natural...lord of xenos.
Thundering crashing behind sent quakes furiously to tumble down buildings and deafening all save for shrilling air being torn asunder. Glancing backward a steady line of explosive light slowly but surely moved ahead, I smirked twisted of amusement to know miracles gained on us and whether we'd have will to keep ahead seemed interestingly enough to ponder. Now shut the feck up, you'll get your retribution as I'll burn that daemon to ash. Please be quiet, I have better things to waste effort on than your lies, xeno filth.
Peering ahead sternly amused I called out over roaring thundering miracles shaking every building to wane, or sway painfully. My warning innocently hinted joyful expectations, "Cultists are running towards us! Everyone start shooting at everything not us, please!" Unlike before whereas they'd hesitated when I'd been fairly honest I found myself hearing snapping lasfire, bolt pistols unloading into groups of heretical humans falling into shredded crimson splattering clouds. I swiftly brought myself to a halt skidding partially through remains unfortunately.
"Fecking gross!" I yelped when taking two auto-pistols stained in crimson and psychically praying for blessed protection to see them glower angrily. Corrupting wisps hissed in quiet rage as they faded allowing my hands partially hotly sinking into metallic grips, "Uh, oh!" I got an almost firsthand look as thundering shells rapidly began surging forward, I granite, stone and metallic debris hazardously gaining to make me whistle sharply shocked. As the last Krieger swept past I fell behind lazily grinning to sense an opportunity of mutual fun.
Leg it out genius, leg it out! I cackled sprinting to hear an unearthly groan as solid earth began dipping inwards sending buildings toppling over. Dust clouds too thick for eyes to see past, or tumbling tons of solid granite shuddered behind my back. Fecking wonderful, I think I might have done something really stupid that I like! Those ahead of me were looking back fearfully, or ideally bewildered when I cheekily warning them, "Don't slow down! Run faster, please."
Our intended route was just one long, plain and overtly narrow avenue to make things far more easier in hindsight. Psychic might increased to have my clothing beginning light smolder, or steam escaped when sweat fizzled into wisps of pure white shooting behind, "It's getting closer!" I called out chortling as an entire detachment picked up their pace, I'd have no doubts the Kriegers wouldn't stop until their hearts imploded at least. Yet noticing Sigur, Anora or Alicia inevitably beginning to slow down proved too tempting to not make light of our situation.
"I take it back, it's probably ten seconds behind us!" I observed slyly in resisting to cackle when Sigur finally snapped as expected, "Fecking shut it, we know kid!" Several cultists who'd been gunned down where either squirming, or limping to pick up weapons. Yet I pointed one pistol to shoot twice as I leaped over another dead heretic to kick said weapon flying away, "Shoot to kill, please! Less you want to be on your back seeing star's falling."
An almighty descending tremor shook even myself to partially to yelp out of sheer shock. The storm-trooper's yell barely was head yet I snickered deviously, "Feck...this!" Buildings freely imploded, or sent huge volumes of dust as innumerable orange streaks came shrilly thundering into solid matter. I couldn't even hear myself yelp when piecing of stinging rock struck an arm, I psychically pushed to keep myself behind several Kriegers who were methodically sustaining runs few dared to hone, or remotely practiced.
Fire began freely forming underneath palms to gradually met small liquid droplets as they hissed past myself. Can't take the heat, oh well someone has to enjoy it! Liquidized agony flowed inside an arm that seemingly burnt itself inside and out a tendril shot screeching towards shrouds manifesting above us, "If something falls burning, or screaming whenever I hit it! Shoot first, ask later!" I shouted out smiling as shrouded daemonic humanoids as expected got smashing into buildings, or fell lividly when my eyes glowered psychically piercing their attempts.
Lasguns roared sporadically missing, or mainly striking said manifestations writhing in flame and turning into ash soundlessly screamed into dust. They're really, really pissed at me! Wonderful, I can't blame them if someone kicked in their fecking door, blew it apart and lit some grox on fire to think it'd be respectful! Giggling from an older memory, I hummed lightly absently to churn fire from behind as it seemingly shot over head pummeling two shrouded mists into buildings, "Only the angrier ones are just coming out which isn't too shocking, so...someone's expecting me! Ah feck it, what a pain for throne's sake!"
Unlike shrouds previously seen these were far more thinner, or possibly they'd gotten faded as I heard an unholy series of shrieking. Glancing over a shoulder puffing smoke out, "Well guess that's taken care off! And we didn't need to waste time on it, daemons, warp gates and rifts...feck, I'm glad the colonel's a nice guy to warn us." Firing two more shots when one cultists twitched as a Krieger had swiped his bayonet to allow momentum tearing guts loose, I smirked doing said soldier a favor to not think twice to stop.
Buildings around us dangerously began tipping backwards immediately to groan universally stressed beyond natural limitations. I looked down to see loose rocks rolling backwards sharply, "Oh...shit." I yelped jumping desperately to see an ever growing crater forming as showers of miracles were performing beyond my wildest imagination. Crater, huh? More like a canyon, or fecking Emperor knows what's happening back there...by throne Agiluf, you'll hear it from me if I'm that unlucky to admit I like it!
As we gained more and more grounder to just hear ear deafening thundering booming over as flickering orange stars appeared higher up. Lots of guns, lots of big fecking guns! I noted anxiously to sprint with psychic will dampening all sensations of pain, stress and ideally made smoking cooling off a near crispy organ of a heat ineffectively. I exhaled longed to see steam openly meddling into reddish mist and small flecking embers of yellowish orange, "Well done, maybe." I shook my head to notice a slowing pace and humor held enough woeful anticipation to keep it alive.
"It's gotten closer!" I merrily commented making those who'd lagged behind not even hesitate much to an undeniable urge to laugh uncontrollably. The ground caved backwards due to crackling stone as several buildings toppled over dangerously close, I darted left and to right avoiding falling debris. Yet I flung fire to furiously cast aside larger objects, or sent them into smoldering glass liquidized white puddles to whistle simply. Didn't think there would be this much rock, talk about poor fecking building planning or whatever they call it.
An entire street began uplifting itself making sprinting fall onto gradually climbing as cultists were skidding past us flailing, or crying out in catatonic states of shock. I kneed one idly sent him rolling downward to see a peak arising, if not crudely and Kriegers reaching the top were scrambling to assist those trying to get upward. I smirked to psychically push myself hollering happily, "Wait for me! I want to see the view, please!" Sharply inclines folded upward suddenly as I leaped quickly to calling towards Engel who held onto some pole assisting everyone, "I won the bet, Engel. You better pay up, or I'll be disappointed!"
With one almighty push I used another street to pole ascending whooping as I smashed face first and tumbled wildly past heavily panting Kriegers. Skidding face first looking up coughing obnoxiously from inhaling far too much dust, "Gross! Fecking gross!" I ignored bloodied splatter to inhale deeply to look back to see an almost cliff face forming, I walked over puffing amazed to see an almost entire darkened city sinking into an abyss. Panting to grin smugly I pointed to see falling miracles driving an entire section further downward.
"How's that for a crater? Think it got everything?" I questioned ponderously peering to see signatures of heretical humans, or daemons fading into near oblivion giving me satisfaction. Feckers thought they'd get me alive, I'd rather die running or know when it's easier to breathe. Trembling openly I took possibly one of the longest drags of a lho-stick to exclaim tiredly to see hunched over Kriegers supporting one another, "You think your high-command is going to be pleased, or do Mauer Der Waffen again eventually? Works pretty well, if I'd say!"
Engel slowly pulled one masked Krieger from near certain doom as his voice sounded mildly impressed to reply, "Possibly! For it seems precision was calculated and utilized for such a small target zone, acolyte." The Sororita were slumped against walls unable to stop, or even think considering their armors were rapidly ascending and descending. I psychically conveyed an earnest hope which got proven wrong, for once in my life. Good thing we hauled fecking like grox on lho, didn't think we'd make it honestly.
Forty hunched over Kriegers numbly began securing sectors of fire as I looked around noticing an almost desolate surroundings. There's no daemons ambushing us, they're all waiting ahead somewhere and I think it's because something worse is being very...deceptively home warming. I noted to have several lower lasguns utterly relived, or ideally content to catch their collective breaths. I bypassed Sigur who leaned back staring upward to see falling streaks of orange shells while seemingly cursing my very appearance, "You...are fecking...unreal, kid! Jump off this cliff...feck me, throne my knees are done!"
I called back too much in a good mood, "Smoke a lho, I think you earned it!" Exhaustively coming to sit between Anora and Alicia, I leaned back relaxing as both Sororita took off their helmets gratefully for breathing in cooler air. Easy part is over, so enjoy it for a few minutes. I psychically mentioned to them absently to genuinely resist flinching, or hissing when internal heat got far too sensitive to dampen further. I peeled one sleeve back to notice an ugly blackened red growing darker, I scowled quietly to lean back irritated.
Anora managed to find strength to speak tiredly, "Marcos...enough, please." I innocently chuckled shrugging to remark amused, "Well at least, it worked!" An armored gauntlet settled on nearly crushing my skull as Alicia hissed particularly not entirely amused, "Shut it! Not one...word! Stop lying to us, we'll discuss your idea of a fun time to joke later, boy."
Despite feeling pressure capably to crush my cranium inward I smiled genuinely guilty to whisper, "Sorry. I just wanted...people to enjoy a view." The Sororita snorted breathlessly to go quiet to stare away towards an ever increasing crater sinking said city further down. Inhaling awkwardly I still kept a grin of chastised cheekily wider, "The Emperor protects." For several moments a relieved silence descended as Kriegers hunched over, knelt rigidly and seemingly kept an eye on both fronts to savor internal pride.
The master-sergeant went around consistently checking various grenadiers who either shook themselves negatively, or nodded due to silent gestures. I watched unable to resist grinning widely when his glass sockets hide a mere stare, "I won." I mouthed sinister to smugly put a hand underneath my chin, I'd expected an answer soon and he'd known it amusingly. You're too kind and good a soul to let someone fall Engel, so I won as a result. Now that only happened just because you have something other Kriegers don't have...right?
Palpable impatience made my fingers tap seriously over and over against said chin in trying to figure out someone for once. He shook his head merely to speak raggedly bemused, "Work on your timing a bit, acolyte. And I'll probably kill you...he won." Pointing a gloved finger towards another grenadier who was point seemingly unaffected to stare back simply affirming said honor. I stared sourly to have my mouth open partially wordlessly screaming in disbelief as he explained rather keenly to notice something, "You're too childish to think someone kinder enough is not as aware, if not knows you better by observing goodness in actions."
I glared partially feeling flames growing underneath clothing to slowly scorching fabric and flammable material. He didn't say anything less to favor taking point with said Krieger who looked down earnestly conflicted as I waved it off, "Engel's a cheater! But you're good, so enjoy it." The masked Krieger nodded again gratefully to see others patting his shoulders urgently, or gregariously knowing they'd earned something far more unseen to be lively. I shook my head to look out into an ever deepening crater sucking down buildings, or occasional screams.
Unfortunately I knew every good thing in my life would end up ripped away, or torn apart in the most cruel fates. Yet I hoped lying in vain to understand it'd not happen, but it would and I wasn't going to have the heart to warn them. Fecking Kriegers...I like you guys, too much to think I don't care. I exhaled tiredly knowing the real dangers were just up ahead, I could only watch tiredly to seemingly drift off slumping between two who I'd called friends. As darkness took over I thought I heard a distant singing growing ever so closer.
End Chapter XIX
Author's Note: Fun fact, that 'doctrine' translates into every Imperial Guard's players hidden joke and real appearance in the lore. It's ideally a paradisaical attempt of sheer silliness yet whenever it's activated, let's just say craters are the least expected outcome. And it also shows ample relative scale of how much of said big guns are in every Death Korps regiment...even though I'm fairly wrong how they're structured, so I just winged it to be honest. I'm hoping people point eventually if it's feasibly understandable, there's so many guns and ammunition...they have to conserve them for long sieges of cities, or anywhere modestly fortified to wear our enemy morale.
Regarding the battle itself, think for one second as to what was counter-acted and not flipped on said enemies. Marcos is good at being creative, but he's no genius to realize things would go well, or bad in hindsight. I hope everyone felt his frustrations in every action, word and decision. Simply put, he had to use what he had and to great fortunate, or misfortune he got enough to do something useful. Also, I'd like to believe you got an insight as to how, or why an Inquisitor like Tartarus whose a psyker would be foreseen, or be captured/missing to get someone like Marcos into said city. Like I said, the crumbs and hints are there as always but I tend to make things alternatively...humane.
Everything he did in this chapter, was hinted and possibly mentioned in some abstract clue given the natural reactions of him reacting. One can argue how twisted a person is at their core, if they find everything or anything driving people mad funny is quite disturbing. But alas, Grim Dark is quite the place to find people from all walks of life to do some useful favors, to most of the Imperium's populaces. Which leads me into my next thoughts, his 'seemingly control of psyker' sorcery and flames. Well what has happened speaks for itself.
A deceiver naturally hides, misguides and just happens to drop their gloves. Marcos is shrewd, he's not a genius or again the smartest person to grave any closer assumption. He's a kid, fairly twisted and absolutely horrifying when someone like that is given ability to fling flames around in a degraded reality where things have consequences. Said consequences, are known and ideally ignored because why would one care, if they have everything they need to do what they can best? And as such it leads to the final and patience conclusion we'll get to see.
Whose mask will crumble first, I wonder? Or who will pretend to speak truth, or lie truthfully. And I will warn people in advance, if you feel absolutely happier for this character and love the interactions. Brace yourselves, as I did, to know when all goods time have to come to an end. Emperor be praised, so have a good day and stay safe as always. I've been completely at peace writing every update, it's been quite humbling to focus everything to make this story just stand on it's own, if only to be uniquely remembered.
Leave a review, it's all I ask as always.
