A/N – You may say that a certain arc closes with this chapter and another one starts. Harry has an opportunity to show some of the skills he had picked up during the training and plotting gets more and more intense.

o-0-o

Harry checked his weapons as he ran after Strybjorn, looking at every hole and opening, expecting enemies to pop out of every hole and then it happened. A wave of terribly misfigured beings appeared in front of them. The first and only warning that he had that the combat started was a roar of a flamethrower held by Egil.

As the flames erupted ahead of him Harry could finally truly see their foes, they were warped by the mutations caused by Chaos and armed into primitive weapons made out of stone and wood. Before he could think much training forced into him took over and pulling the bolt pistol out of the holster he squeezed the trigger and watched in satisfaction as projectiles flew through the air and slammed into their target. Bodies exploded as bolter fire ripped them to shreds with fountains of gore painting everything around in blood and pieces of torn tissue.

Harry watched it with some shock and surprise, he knew that bolter rounds were able to rip ferrocrete to shreds, but seeing them do the same with flesh was something else. He shook his head and firmly grasping power axe he charged into combat. He bared his fangs as he let out a feral howl, his wolf spirit howling in joy at the bloodshed and encouraged him to fight harder.

He slammed the axe into the first mutant that found itself on his path and the blade crackled with power as it effortlessly sliced the flesh and bones below it before coming out of the body on the other side of it and hungrily diving into the one right behind the first one.

What followed next was short, brutal and vicious fight, too short for Harry's taste as soon after he dug his weapons into the first mutant he was done with combat. Their bodies shredded, ripped to pieces and burned all around him and the rest of the Wolf Guard, while gore and bits of tissue covered their armors.

"No shamans," Strybjorn said looking at the corpses and then at the tunnel behind them. "Harald, you will stay with me in the rear, the rest move ahead of us and be ready to support us."

They nodded and started to move, Harry fell into place to the side of Strybjorn and focused on his psychic powers, hoping to learn about the enemies before they would be upon them. However excluding the annoying tingling sensation he didn't feel anything out of the ordinary, he glanced at Strybjorn and saw that the older wolf was calm and concentrated on the task.

Harry almost saw the natural light enter the cave when the wave of monsters came from behind, almost taking them by surprise. He barely managed to turn around as the first creatures emerged from behind obstacles and hidden holes. At this Strybjorn let out a loud howl and lunged into combat, his massive form smashing into the frail and weak bodies of mutants. Harry looked at his commander carve a bloody path through the foes and was almost ready to jump after him when he saw something that made him pause. Above the mutants were floating several more of them on large disks with weapons that pulsed with the energy of the Warp.

Harry snarled and pulled his pistol out of its holster before firing at the closest one. His snarl became even louder when all of the bullets either bounced off or missed completely. He considered reloading his bolter and emptying another clip into the shamans, but then an idea came into his mind. He pointed his hand in the direction of the shamans and spreading his fingers channeled the energy of the Warp through them. What followed next was several lightning bolts separating from his fingers and crossing the space between him and the shamans. The first one managed only to scream when the energy slammed into it, next few tried to stop the attack, but were unable to. Power of a properly trained powerful psyker proving too much for their limited abilities and knowledge.

Harry looked around the cave and saw Strybjorn happily butcher the mutants on his path with silent efficiency and purpose, his blade rising and falling, each time sending more of the enemies of the Allfather to their Dark Gods. Harry was about to join him in butchering those mutants when he saw more massive and bulkier ones move from behind.

Gripping comfortably his axe he turned to face them and it was then when he noticed that they weren't the same breed of creatures as those that Strybjorn was dealing with, but that they were horribly mutated humans. He shot the closest one in the head and watched with satisfaction as its head exploded like a ripe watermelon, pieces of brain flying in every direction. However before he had much time to enjoy how good his accuracy was, the mutants were almost upon him and he emptied the whole bolter into the place where was the most of them. Some were felled by the bullets, but a majority was just injured by them and was still able to murder him.

His axe buried into the first body on his path and in one swift move he opened the torso of the mutant and quickly slammed the blade into the next target he found on his path. Blood rained onto the plates of his armor as the mutants raked their claws and primitive weapons across plates of plasteel and ceramite. With each next strike he sent he felt his vision become red as more and more body parts and blood dropped onto the ground around him. He almost completely forgot about the defense and parried strikes only when he knew that it would allow him to murder more mutants. Each strike felt perfect to him, blade of his ace crackling with arcs of energy as it cleaved limbs away from torsos, splintered heads and bisected mutants on his path. He fought as if there was nothing else outside of combat and only the mutants on his path mattered.

He only stopped killing when there were no more mutants around him, just their corpses and his whole form was drenched in their blood that dripped onto the ground in massive streams. He looked around and saw Strybjorn emerge from the part of the cave where he confronted his own group of foes.

"By Morkai's Balls!" He said, his eyes focusing on Harry's form and then on the ground around. "I knew you were good, but to cause so much destruction and send so many mutants to their fell gods is something else."

Harry looked at the form of Strybjorn and then at the mutants on the ground. "When and how did it happen?" He asked in some surprise.

"Ah, Berserker Rage," Strybjorn said and nodded to himself. "I should have seen symptoms of it, after all similar warrior almost murdered me once when he was in this rage."

"Who?" Harry asked.

"Ragnar Thunderfist, to you known as Ragnar Blackmane," Strybjorn explained before shooting and killing a mutant that tried to crawl away. "When we were Chosen I murdered his father and well, he didn't like it a lot and almost murdered me in turn." He looked around and finished few more mutants. "Let's get to the surface and hope that they sent a call for help as if I'm right this is another one of those fucking infestations and we will need to burn it out."

Harry nodded and stepping over the corpses they made their way to the surface, while killing any mutant that was still alive and tried to crawl away. When they emerged out of the cave they saw the rest of the pack finishing few more mutants.

"Did you call for aid?" Strybjorn asked.

"Aye, we did," Egil said and paused. "Signal was sent five minutes ago, so they should be here in few seconds."

Strybjorn nodded and looked around. "There is more of those things hiding inside and they will probably come to face us," he said and indicated place where the valley rose and formed a small ridge. "Take places there and wait for them. Also activate your beacons and made sure that they know where we are."

There was a round of acknowledging orders and Harry followed Strybjorn towards the ridge, on the way there he thought about activating the beacon built into the armor and a single rune flickered from red to green. He stopped to the side of Strybjorn and mimicked the older warrior who laid down on the ground and reloaded his bolter before aiming it at the entrance to the cave.

"Not the most honorable way of doing our duties, but it works," he said with a glance at Harry. "They will expect us to wsit for them at the entry and this way we can kill them from afar."

Harry nodded in understanding and waited patiently for the events to unfold, he didn't need to wait for a long time as moments later above their heads passed a flight of Thunderhawks and Stormwolves. It landed on the ground and out of it spilled dozens of Space Wolves, some were dressed in normal power armor, but there were also some in Terminator suits.

"Let's go," Strybjorn said. "I see the Great Wolf and Ragnar and we need to report to them what had happened."

o-0-o

Ragnar noticed Strybjorn and someone wholly covered in blood and it took him a moment to recognize that it was the newest addition to his personal bodyguard.

"It seems that your wolves have claws," Logan Grimnar said as he joined Ragnar. "Let's hear what they have to say and then we will strike."

Ragnar nodded and waited for his Wolf Guard to join them. "Good job," he said and added after a moment. "What did you find?"

"A nest of Chaos worshipping things," Strybjorn said. "Harald detected traces of Warp powers before we entered the cave and after we detected the first group of mutants I gave an order to withdraw. My past experiences taught me to be careful when dealing with cults in those mountains."

"You did well," Ragnar said and looked at Harry. "Since you were supposed to withdraw before first group found you, how is it that your armor looks as if you carved a path through the enemy lines?"

"We met few groups keen on keeping us inside on our way out," Strybjorn said and placed his hand on Harry's pauldron. "After we met the first one I ordered the rest of the pack to move ahead of us and stayed behind with Harald to slow down the enemy. We almost got onto the surface when a large group of mutants attacked us from behind and later second from the front."

"To think that they have such resources," Logan Grimnar grumbled and looked at Ragnar. "They did good and once the mess is over they should be rewarded."

"Aye, they should," Ragnar agreed. "What are we going to do about the cult?"

"Burn it to the ground and root out any survivors," Grimnar said. "Your guards found the place so you will lead the assault."

"Of course," Ragnar said and motioned for Strybjorn and Harry to follow him. "You and the whole pack won't take part in the attack. Return with the first Thunderhawk back to the Aett and get rest. Also there's something I want to talk with Harald and just him."

Strybjorn nodded and walked away, yet close enough to be able to protect his liege lord.

"You did good," Ragnar said looking at Harry. "When I named you my Wolf Guard I risked my honor and respect as you probably know that so young Wolf Guards are rare."

"I'm the first Blood Claw that was promoted to the post since your times," Harry said. "I know about this fact, Strybjorn told me as much."

"Indeed," Ragnar said and paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Also the Inquisition tried to get their claws into you and that's why once you fully finish your training you are being send to Terra."

Harry blinked in surprise and then a short growl left his throat. "I'm being sent away to keep those bureaucrats happy?!"

"No," Ragnar said, slowly shaking his head. "The Celestarch requested you to be assigned to the Wolfblades as soon as possible and that means being sent to Terra."

"Ah," Harry said, scowl gone from his face, then he bared his throat in submission and looked at Ragnar. "I apologize for my outburst, liege."

Ragnar laughed and patted him on the pauldron. "Happens to everybody," he said and added after a moment. "Also I much more prefer my advisors and guards honest and telling what they think. So get back with your pack to the Fang, get a good meal, enjoy the time and rest."

Harry bowed his head and walked away and towards Strybjorn who weirdly looked at them. Ragnar just bared his fangs and his old friend nodded before looking at Harry.

o-0-o

Valkoth looked around the command center of the officially not existing house troops of the House of Belisarius and a short growl escaped his mouth. Three of the most senior Wolfblades, two drawn from Wolf Guard and one from Long Fangs didn't even acknowledge the growl, while six of the house guard looked at him in some fear.

"Those zealots are funded by someone," he finally said. "The gear they get and their discipline suggest that someone rich does that."

"Other houses?" one of the humans asked.

"No," Bjorn, a Long Fang with a long, white, braided beard said. "Other houses even if they dislike us know well that zealots are also going to hit them. No, that's someone else and I think that we all know who it is."

"The Inquisition," Valkoth spat. "Masters of cloak and dagger once again move against this house."

"Again?" Bjorn asked.

"When Blackmane was a Wolfblade they did the same thing," Valkoth said. "Granted, they used subtler means and we lacked most of our current knowledge, but the pattern was the same. In the next few days or weeks we will have an assassination attempt on the Celestarch and the Blade that will accompany her."

"Should we reinforce the guards that accompany the Celestarch?" Adrian, commander of the household guard asked.

"Aye, we should," Valkoth said. "I want with her either Centurions or Terminator at all times she's outside of the house, at least two at a time."

"She won't like it."

"But it is a necessity," Valkoth said and added after a moment. "Also make sure that there are always few Blades ready to support her guards."

"I don't think the Celestarch herself is the target," Gunnar, a Wolf Guard with a mane of fiery red hair said. "That doesn't make much sense to me, especially now. They need to know that we have the manpower to keep her surrounded with Terminators or Centurions and that we will murder any assassin foolish enough to get close to her."

Valkoth paused at those words and looked at Gunnar. "If that's the case, whose the target?"

"The Wolfblade we are all waiting for," he said. "I mean, the Inquisition was here when Ragnar Blackmane claimed him for the chapter and then they came to Fenris to demand him being given to them."

At those words Valkoth bristled and looked at Egil. "We never knew what had happened in Fenris, the Great Wolf didn't send a single message."

"Ah," Gunnar nodded and said after a moment. "I was standing guard behind the Great Wolf when he sent back that arrogant Inquisitor that demanded that we give away one of our pups. Also some mysterious sources delivered data to the chapter that the Inquisition is plotting against us and wants the boy for themselves."

"Mysterious sources?"

"The Great Wolf didn't share them, yet it is obvious he believes that they are legitimate and could be confirmed," Gunnar said and looked at the map of the Quarter. "I think that once Harald gets here we will see a lot more of those zealots popping out of the proverbial woodwork."

Valkoth nodded and looked at Bjorn. "What do you have to say? You are the oldest one here."

"What Gunnar says makes sense," Bjorn said and bared his fangs. "Those fools tried to do similar things in the past, but usually more subtly."

"Very well," Valkoth said and looked around. "Bjorn, Gunnar each take twelve Blades and start cleansing more dangerous nests of those idiots. Adrian, you and I will go over the security systems of the house. The rest, train the troops to be up to speed and to be ready."

o-0-o

Aldrik Voldus frowned as he looked at Covan Leorac, fellow Grand Master and a representative of the Chapter to the Inquisition. "They want us to do what?"

"Grandmaster of the Ordo Malleus thinks that the Chapter of the Space Wolves is tainted by the corruption of Chaos," Leorac said after a moment. "And he wants us to detain the newest Wolfblade as he is supposed to be the source of this corruption."

Aldrik let out an annoyed huff and looked around the hallowed halls of the Librarium. "Emperor's Tarot was clear, Space Marine, God-Emperor and the Eye of Horus," he said and added after a moment. "It is obvious that it refers to a new Marine and we all know how the Warp behaved when that boy showed up."

"Demons shrieked in pain and were weaker, a lot weaker," Leorac said and added after a moment. "Also the light of the Astronomican burned brightly, when it happened we traveled through the Warp and our Navigator was shocked by how powerful the light was."

"Omens are good, yet the Inquisition ignores them," Aldrik said and paused to gather his thoughts. "We need to interfere before they do something incredibly stupid and threaten the Imperium and drag us into the mess."

"I told the Conclave that we won't fight the Wolves and they accepted those words, but then Wolfblades officially aren't a part of their chapter and that Grandmaster can force us to act against them."

"Someone needs to watch him and see how powerful of a psyker he is once he is on the surface of Terra," Aldrik said and pursed his lips. "Someone that we can trust and we are sure that they won't be influenced in their judgment."

"Or not," said person that entered into the Librarium, making both of them look at him. He was Aidan Perdron, a Grand Master responsible for the training of new recruits. "The Wolves know about our existence and we don't need to hide ourselves from them, so we might as well as use it and test him, here."

"The Inquisition will be deeply unhappy about this," Leorac said. "Or at least those that believe in the fact that the Wolves are tainted, the rest will be mostly not caring about what we do or how we do."

"And the Great Wolf might also have doubts about this," Aldrik said and added after a moment. "Though he is a far more intelligent being than the part of the Inquisition that will have problems."

"Before we begin someone needs to get his permission," Aidan said. "As even if the boy agrees to the trials we put him through to ensure that he is pure and untainted, his chapter master needs to give his permission before that or the Wolves will be angry."

"I can travel to Fenris, besides, there is a certain piece of lore that I need to check with their Rune Priests, so hopefully I should be able to make the Great Wolf see the reason," Aldrik said.

He could tell that his peers weren't convinced, but also weren't going to oppose him as all of them knew that this trip could be very well, a one way one.

o-0-o

Harry felt some kind of fear as he walked into the study of the Great Wolf and saw that there was nobody else there, excluding him and the Great Wolf. "Great Wolf, did you summon me?" Harry asked as he stood at attention, his body perfectly rigid.

"At ease," the Great Wolf said and Harry moved into more comfortable position. "Indeed, I summoned you. You are being assigned to the Wolfblades as per request of the Lady Celestarch. Many think that it is a banishment, but the truth is that it is an opportunity for you to learn and gain experience. I, your Wolf Lord and a great many higher ranking members of our chapter served as bodyguards to the Celestarch. It is an opportunity to forge your own path and to gain allies in high places."

"I understand," Harry said. "So I'm supposed to gain knowledge while performing my duties."

"Indeed," the Great Wolf said and gave him one last look. "You will travel there on board of one of our courier vessels and will carry a message from me to the Celestarch and you will present it when you make an oath to her."

Harry nodded and took a scroll handed to him.

"You're dismissed and good luck and survive on Terra," the Great Wolf said.

Harry gave one last bow to his chapter master and walked out of the chamber and towards his own quarters to gather what little personal belongings he had and prepare for the travel to Terra. Place where the next part of his saga would begin and he hopefully would be able to forge his own path, one that would earn him respect and honor.

o-0-o

A/N – Someone is bent on capturing Harry and not much can stop him, also some more about him is revealed and one, very elusive player is meddling in the affairs of the world.