Lumina Crusade

by ColinHayworth

In the 42nd Millennium, there is only war. In the Hive World of Twilight where the promise of technology and understanding still remains but the corrupted and rotten bureaucracy in its place is threatening to destroy all of it slowly but surely. And when the threshold has finally been broken, it will take only a spark to burn all of it down. And there will be retribution...

4. Bitter Uncompromising

Warning: This story doesn't exactly follow the suit of grimdark because of the way the story may develop. If you still enjoy what you are reading then go ahead.

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Chapter 3
Bitter Uncompromising

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Somewhere in Upper-Lower Hive, Vespera

"We're lucky to find even an empty room in an inn like this. Not too different right now in comparison to Middle Hive but this is bound to change". Michele said as she looked at herself in the mirror.

Elise still sits on Anastasia's bed in the double room. Not too shabby considering things will only get worse and the best she could do is not get in the way of her older sister and her colleague. She could even hear some commotion on the lower floor but she felt too tired to decipher what it is. All she knows is that her sister is doing something called... "negotiation?" and apparently, it is to help them in the long run with how stretched the guild is right now.

She remembers how things were in the past, how they used to live in their venerable house, opulent, imperial, gazing proudly from its stoic perch in the Upper Hive. But she just has to have the misfortune of seeing it brought down by others.

Ruin has come to her family.

Within that flame of destruction, her older sister barely managed to rescue her and herself as those who seek her House's demise hunt them relentlessly. It was only by her skills of negotiation that she drives a hard bargain with everything she has to create confusion and false-flag to even manage to escape the Upper Hive and its unrelenting machination. A sign of weakness and it was all over for her as a fate worse than death awaits.

Her House's name is Valkyria and apparently, nobody even knows of its origin and neither does she nor her sister will get the chance anymore. It was all but in the past and all she has left is to look forward.

"Hey, Elise... What's that spear lying next to the nightstand?" Michele asked as she finds the thing's appearance curious.

"My sister's spear? I think it was called a Krak Spear or something like that". Elise said as she looked at its blade still gleaming in reflection.

Krak Spear is often an Imperial Guards' reserved war gears for specialized companies such as Death Korp's Riders or the like. However, her spear isn't one-time use as it is made for sustained durability, and uses as the Krak warhead usually built-in is replaced with a heavy-tensile springs launching system that required even extra mechanism just to make the reloading process less painful. In exchange, it fires custom-crafted Krak Harpoons that are capable of busting even Arbite's armored transport with precision.

Even without using the said function, its blade can still kill with precision regardless as Anastasia's skill with a spear is unexpectedly overwhelming. Her House was of martial in nature and the pen and the sword goes hand in hand without question. Know that a weapon in your hand never betrays like words nor it alone could win wars before the fight begins. People who thought they could just ignore her word thinking they could easily overpower physically her ended up dead before they even realized it.

Anastasia has a lot of weight on her mind now especially as she only wants her sister to have a normal life. But the past still pursues them as the Upper Hive Nobles still seek her demise, the last time she left her sister alone in the guild, a group of hired killers ended up pursuing her and it was only thanks to Alphric and his crew's intervention that Elise lives to see another day. From then on, Anastasia brought Elise with her no matter where she goes for only she knows with guarantees that Elise is safe with her.

The door to the room they were in swung open before gently closing again as Anastasia came in looking a bit worse for wear. It seems that negotiating with people who are already miserable is not too much of a good idea. Especially when she looks absolutely no part of their squalor. Either way, she received information and guaranteed protection for this room for this night. And that's a victory in her book.

"And here I thought you would come back much earlier, I thought your hatred of material wealth would just make you short of opting out of it already". Michele said as she does remember her last time having Anastasia as a client.

"Excessive wealth that straight turns you into an irredeemable asshole, Michele. If that's your attempt at jesting then I'm afraid you missed the mark already". Anastasia said as she sat on the bed that Elise was also on.

"Yeah, I know. I didn't expect that someone like you from Upper Hive would be actually so honest that I find it as a fault. Felt like a dissonance from what I heard from others who have their experience here." Michele said as she recollects what other merchants said when they got their requests and took them there. Needlessly to say that it was traumatic without a question of doubt.

"When you stay there long enough, an act of honesty will be the most deceptive move you could do there. And nothing is more amusing than seeing someone self-destructing trying to counteract an attack that never came that way". Anastasia said as she lies down on her bed.

When honesty is taken as deception, it means the mind-game has escalated far too beyond that an announcement of truth will be taken as a ploy that never exists. And for that same reason, they left themselves open for the most straightforward blow possible. This only works on Noble Echelons but it works too damn well that it may honestly be a fact of life.

Michele will never understand why Nobles have to complicate themselves so much that they functionally can't even be honest with themselves. To her, that life is nothing short but hell. An endless battle of politics where things constantly shift for its sake and change whether for good or malicious occurs as many times as she has taken breathes.

The idea of wealth and luxury may have interested her at first but the lifestyle that it entails made her glad that she was never born there. The way she lives is like an open book, it made her an easy target to exploit and she is thankful that she has absolutely no interaction with it and also the fact that Anastasia is on her side and not as someone who is about to discard her at a whim. Anastasia may have been trained to be like that but after her fall from grace, none of them would even dare cross that path ever again after being the victim of it.

"By the way, from what I heard... This Hive Sector is adjacent to where House Noctis of Lower Hive used to be and belongs to House Umbra of Lower Hive. I know it's roundabout but bare with me okay... It seems that House Umbra has the ability to produce extremely powerful filtration systems that straight up convert pollution smog and sludge into clean air and water. They are the reason why people of Lower Hive are still capable of working and not dying at their first step. Although I heard that they put a very premium price for their gas masks and services and people literally will kill for it. It works so damn well that I heard even the most polluted part of Twilight is no match against it." Anastasia said as she lies on her bed with her younger sister.

"That powerful? I guess there is merit to them being a Noble House but based on the people here, they don't seem to particularly enjoy that privilege very much..." Michele said as she lies down on her separated bed.

"Pick your poison, Michele. Each house has its own way of ruling and sometimes it just doesn't worth it..." Anastasia said as she finally felt her twinge of tiredness seeping into.

"I honestly don't even know what House is ruling over the territory that our Guild is in and I have a feeling that I better off left unknown... Damn it, Emperor... Driving for 16 hours straight is maddening..." Michele said so as she felt completely sapped right at the first minute of resting.

Before Anastasia realized it, Michele has already fallen asleep before she continues the conversation. Thinking that this is probably the best place to stop, Anastasia turned the light off as the dark night completely surrounded them. Elise held to her sister tightly as she wishes to not be separated from her no matter what. Anastasia only envision the future ahead and she felt like she is definitely not going to like it one bit. No idea why but perhaps the way the Lower Hive is going is unnerving her.

The dark veil of the night goes on and the carnage outside truly begins.

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Rules of Nature

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Underhive, Vespera

At this point in time, they have no idea of what's the time really is. Twilight has roughly the same day cycle as Holy Terra but extended and grueling combat makes the sense of time completely wash over them as gunfire and violence drown out any sense they have besides combat instinct. And when fierce battles in Underhive undergo, there will no doubt be many marauders and looters who attempt to make themselves useful during these moments to gain as much loot as they could

"1546 killed..." Kang muttered as he swing his shotgun's stock once more at a Ganger who underestimated his close-quarter combat ability.

Gangers can withstand more mental fatigue than how a 'normal' person should, they are still human ultimately in the end and they have become visibly more tired than how any of the Luminary is. This, unfortunately, proved that this is a losing battle for them and now at wit's end, they decided to go onto one final suicide charge just to change the tide of battle.

"You! Curse you for ruining our entire Gang!" The deranged man in mohawk yells at them as his body twitches as if he is about to explode in a gory manner.

Then he lunged toward Kang who stood as if that Ganger wasn't even worth his attention. Even as he looks down upon, the Ganger is strangely fast despite literally nothing but being short of lanky which Kang suspected that he has literally overdosed on combat stim and is on the brink. Recalling his experience, he, regrettably, saw too many incidents revolving around combat drugs during his Ganger time. A gangmate of his literally pumped himself full of assorted experimental combat stim he scavenged then just drop dead on the spot due to overdose. Too bad that he was intending to use some to push through but he did without it either way.

Kang sighed before activating one of his psykic passive.

Chained Wrath

The Ganger unleashes a flurry and barrage of punches upon Kang's chest. Even so much that the impacts seemingly vertebrate the air around them. But no matter how much blow he landed, Kang still stood there unchanged and looking down upon him as the Ganger desperately try to even make him flinch but to no avail.

Then, Kang used his two hands to press the head of the punching Ganger, slowly. As the Ganger's head is slowly being crushed, he tries to punch faster in desperation but Kang still continues onward with his execution. As the pain starts to flood in, the Ganger's mind starts to desperately search for an answer as time in his vision start to slow down but Kang's perspective remains unchanged no matter what.

Seconds into minutes, minutes into hours, ever, and so on until eternity. But no matter what the Ganger does, he felt increasing pain and agony across all of it. His eyes are literally being popped out, and his skull slowly cracks into fragments upon compression. For what is just a few seconds for Kang is an eternity for that particular Ganger. Without remorse, the Ganger's head exploded into blood, bone fragments, and brain matter everywhere around.

And Kang just continues as if nothing special happened. Disrespect just doesn't cut enough for it...

1547 killed...

...

...

"One de-facto leader left!" Mika said as she places her two fingers on her temple much like how an Imperial Guard's voxcaster (read: radio) user does when communicating. It seems that Kang reported back the death of that particular Ganger already.

Having a means to communicate while not being tapped in by external factors is a huge boon although the ability's limited range makes it unsuitable on a large scale where distance becomes more visible.

Due to Underhive's already claustrophobic nature and tight spacing. Alphric's Heavy Stubber ended up gaining significant effectiveness more than how one expected. Light covers ended up being useless against the might of 12.7mm cartridges and there's too little room for any maneuver around at all. Even if there's a path to flank, Mika would instantly recognize and pick them out before they got anywhere close. The battle is currently held at a standstill as the Luminary continues to rout the remaining Gangers that initiated their fight with them.

Then Kang appeared and jump straight into the fray with no hesitation. If they weren't already scared shitless because of Alphric's Heavy Stubber then Kang alone will put them into their places. And Kang sorts of an urban legend that keeps spreading from people to people about a Ganger that is indomitable to the point, that not even the Arbite's most savage and dangerous personnel could capture him. While Kang probably could fit into that image, he would vehemently deny it.

With Violence on, he quickly breaches into the enemy's rank. And in the raging mayhem it follows, he utterly annihilates those who oppose him with little prejudice. As for gore and body parts splatter like bits and fragments, Kang rages on as his solemn faces remain unchanged despite the carnage that happens. If those Gangers could make a choice right now, they would rather have faced the Heavy Stubber than Kang himself.

A single swing of the stock of his shotgun and a Ganger's head flew off his neck. That's the basic gist of how powerful Kang appeared to everyone else but the Luminary right now.

Alphric soon noticed something as he explores and surveys the area. It seems that they have entered deep into a Gang's territory if the carving on the wall is any indication. As he slows down and expends a bit of time to decipher, before he even gets anything beyond its bare image, rifle bullets carved straight into and ruin any form of discernment for Alphric.

Kang then swung his shotgun and crushed thems straight into their waist from the head. Didn't even fire it for his strength right now pretty much overwhelm anything that the Gangers alone could muster.

"Alphric? Do you know where we are going?" Mika said as she watches Kang wreak havoc alone without needing their help.

Alphric looked down toward the ground and saw what he could visibly discern as a train track. Broken and rusted without a doubt, but if something like this means anything, there must have been an underground transit system that could help them navigate much better than before. It has to lead somewhere and without a doubt about it.

"I think I have an idea..." Alphric said as he rushes forward while Mika earnestly follows him.

It was clear that the final Gang that they are up against is putting on a fierce last stand against them. If the amount of sustained fire unleashed upon them right now doesn't tell of the situation then they are hopeless either way. Kang decided to stop his charge on this one before methodically loading his shotgun once more.

Something deranged is brewing within Kang's eye but his posture and facial deny it entirely. With a single pull of his trigger, the slug shell fired with a tremendous power behind. The feeling of something incredibly wrong already emanated even before Kang fired it but now it has only been more cemented. Before any of them could react, the ballistic exploded into myriad fragments as what was left of those holding the entrance were reduced into nothing but gibs splatter everywhere before ultimately subsuming by the Luminary.

A sense of dread can be felt by the Gangers as they are finally pushed to their limit. It was at this moment that they decided to use the last ace in the hole that they have. If they are going to be annihilated then they are better off knowing they fought their best with all they have.

The Luminary steps into the entrance at last and they were greeted with a massive room. Even at their entrance steps, they could see how large this whole place is and see that this is a good starting place to scour the Underhive. Unfortunately, though, they must completely clear the place, and the Gangers are just about to welcome their guests with hails of bullets at the entrance.

Without a further word, the Luminary jumped into action at a blistering pace as they outspeed the Ganger's reflex by a large margin thanks to the power of Light. At some point, Gangers don't give any noteworthy amount of Emotions bonus due to the fact that they effortlessly kill them. Hence why their Emotion Level just tanks right now although it is close to the next level.

Emotion Level: 1.89

This whole place is a massive train station or a train scrapyard due to the amount of scrap and broken train parts heaped into a massive pile that reaches the height above. Not reaching the roof though, mind that fact but it is still gargantuan without a shadow of a doubt. And not only just one but there are also multiple of them seen from the distance with varying sizes. This alone turns the whole place into a cavern of steel and scraps that would have been lucrative to those above but here, they are just left to rot in abandonment.

And the Gangers established their base on it and live on it too. Now, someone is coming here to wrought ruin upon them and thus they will fight to their last just for its sake.

"Bring in the Knight! Now!" One of the Gangers yelled out loud to relay before being permanently silenced.

Kang stood for a moment as his shotgun's muzzle still bellowing with smoke. Knight? It doesn't bode well and Gangers are exponentially more dangerous when presented with sufficiently powerful weapons or tools. He knew it too damn well and it won't betray him now of all the time.

"Quick! We have to move out of here, now!" Kang yelled out loud to his friends before a sudden rummage of steel clashing against one another drowned him out.

Something jumped from the mountain of wreckage and landed right in front of them. Not a very high jump but one that is enough to create an audible disruption.

Kang can only guess that it was a Knight that the Ganger called. Unlike the Imperial Knight that he and Alphric have that one-time fortune of being transported into a large and massive voidship. This one is at its bare minimum to be called as it is. It has a bipedal chassis system but it looks very rudimentary and barebone but robust enough for the job it was made to do. Covered around it are armored platings that completely shrouded its head and armaments, leaving only a small gap for vision. On its left is a massive chain blade that seems to extend longer than the height of the Knight itself and to the left is an array of Heavy Stubbers aimed forward.

Perhaps they have by chance learned of the existence of the Imperial Knight and tried to replicate such a thing. This is Twilight, a Hive Forge World where technology persisted and what would have been rare are common enough to be used by civilians. And it doesn't excuse heavy weaponry at all for better stuff is exclusive to the echelons above.

And honestly, they have to give the credit where it is due for replicating such a thing to function entirely on physical mechanism required an intellect that is only worthy of the best. Not that they could do it when the Knight's guns are aimed at them.

"Watch out!" Kang yelled to Alphric as he barely evaded the barrage of bullets.

The three immediately scatter to avoid collateral and the Knight begins to pursue. They thought that it at least would be slow considering its rudimentary structure but nope, it is still fast as shit. Not as fast as a proper Imperial Knight but it certainly gets there had it been improved.

As Alphric continues to analyze the Knight, he noticed something that looks like a gun installed right below its neck. He doesn't know what it does but he preys that it has no use at all. In which he finds that line of thought betrayed really soon.

Electric power converges at it as crackles of crimson emanated from its barrel. All three of them knew exactly what it is...

Lascannon

From what they heard from Rogue Traders, Lascannon often fires a lance of concentrated laser beams capable of busting through a tank from the front and through to its back. That is the standard model that is shared in-between Forge Worlds across Imperium. In Twilight, however, this thing has an additional firing mode that is...

With their reflexes and fervor kicks into overdrive, the three instantly time their motion and managed to swerve their way out of its firing line in a mere moment before it fired. A continuous and large stream of lasers was then unleashed upon and shredding whatever it came into contact with into slag and molten lava. The Luminary only barely and narrowly avoided this death and they can't guarantee that this won't happen the next time.

Twilight Lascannon doesn't fire in lances, it is a beam that keeps going until its trigger is released. And for all the destruction it wrought upon, it only cost roughly the same amount of energy for more havoc than a simple lance of light that the normal version did.

The three of them instantly got back on their feet as the Knight stood still to recalibrate the Lascannon. As their emotions run higher after the effortless massacre of normal Gangers, this was a challenge that they can't and won't refuse to back down no matter what. With their weapon aimed, they fired their weapons at its potential weak point such as joints or hydraulic but it became hard-pressed again as the Knight got back on its feet.

A standard Imperial Knight towers over mortals at the height of 9 to 12 meters and this Scrap Knight is no different even if its armaments are far subpar. But even then, it is still dangerous to mortals like them regardless of how it is. With that proven to be, there is no way for them to take down a Knight with only small arms even with the boost of their Spirit Resonance.

They need a different plan, anything that works with what they have.

Emotion Level: 1.90

"Alphric, I think I know what I can do. We have to find a way to remove those armor platings or otherwise our weapons won't do anything!" Mika said as she still fires both of her Autopistols as incendiary ammunitions fire relentlessly.

"You think we don't know? I've been trying to get my luck doing shit for me right now but it seems that it has a different idea otherwise!" Kang said as his shotgun fires more birdshot that just bounces off harmlessly against the Knight's armor platings.

Alphric dredges through his mind once more. At least 16 hours have passed since their combat and it has been hazy right now since all of their combat was more or less of a one-sided slaughter. But something turned up something important. That one time...

Burning Heart

"Mika! Do you still have your Psykic active?" Alphric asks again as he formulates a plan.

"What do you think I'm still doing!?" Mika yells out loud as she sidestepped a barrage of 12.7mm rounds

"I'll cover you! I need you to get close there and rend their armor apart with your blazing power!" Alphric said as he puts on his guard by crossing his arms in front and charging forward.

The Scrap Knight noticed and fired its stream of Heavy Stubber rounds at him. It however didn't expect that its 12.7mm round being bounced off his arm as if it is doing nothing at all. Alphric however still feeling its brunt and the force behind it even if Stagnant Blood and Scar of Sorrow is reducing the incoming damage by a lot. With nothing left but moving forward, he charges head-on and ignores the impossibly overwhelming force of power of the linked Heavy Stubbers.

Both Kang and Mika follow promptly behind him. Alphric has willingly put himself as their shield, they must not tarnish this chance that they were given.

Emotion Level: 1.91

They managed to reach right at the close-quarter of the Knight and like as they expected, it is toweringly huge compared to their sizes. But their battle has drawn close and now there is no avoiding it. Alphric felt like his arm is about to give out from blocking so much 12.7mm ballistics but Mika's anesthetic spray did give him a much-needed feeling of quelling agony.

Mika took out her scalpel as her Spirit Resonances activated once more. A fire ignites within her eyes as she swings it.

Ember of Hope

Burning Heart

Her scalded scalpel leaves behind a trail of blazes that lingers as if it was afterimages. As the scorching heat of it alone should have been impossible to wield bare-handed, it sears into the armor plating of the Scrap Knight and the pilot instantly recognizes what she is doing as it then raises its foot up and threatens to stomp her right in the spot. Just as it was about to do it, a divine intervention happened right just when it occurred.

Although to say that it was divine is a massive stretch, it was an intervention demanded at the right moment. As Alphric literally stood beneath its forcing stomp and halted it with the sheer force of will and might that he has. The force of it practically created a decent-sized crater from where he stands as his guard is still forcing it away from stomping him.

"The things I do for love!" Alphric winced as he felt like he is pushing his defense too far for its own good.

Kang waves his hand to call out for Mika and she instantly recognizes and quickly gets out of the Knight's stomping foot above her as fast as she could. He crouches and places his hand together forward into boosting stance and without a word of comment, she took it as he launches her toward one of the Knight's legs. Once more with her blazing scalpel, she slashed as fast as her hands could as the trail of blaze and explosions tore its armor apart faster than any of them expected. Partially of the battle fervor that has driven them this far and the part of the enhancement of Light that was given to them.

Needless to say though, what probably was weeks or months of work was reduced to smoldering scraps in seconds. It immediately retreated, leaving Alphric who was practically planted into the ground from the sheer force alone. Its leg still functions because her scalpel didn't run deep enough but with the armor platings in tatters, it was Kang's turn to double down upon it.

Emotion Level: 1.92

Kang then skillfully climbs upon one of the mountains of scraps that is nearby them which have wedged them into a cavern where this battle took place. Without any hindrance or past ailments, his swift movement was perceived as he climbs what is essentially hazardous terrain a few meters upward and then keeps that pace as he ran toward the Knight. The Heavy Stubbers of the Scrap Knight aimed at Kang and fire relentlessly much like before but the scraps hinder way too much that none of it hits what it was supposed to aim at.

When he got close enough, Kang leaped toward it while holding what looks like a train wheel and its suspension rod above his head. On his face was a fierce determination that refuse to back down no matter what.

Chained Wrath

Violence

Metallic Crush

A sickening blow thought impossible by mortal strength landed upon the exposed leg of the Scrap Knight. It was at this point that the Knight's pilot instantly realized the true danger it is in and that it immediately backed away while the leg remain sticking. As the sounds of heavy creak released from the heavily-damaged leg of it, all three of them knew that they finally stood a chance. The suspension rod in Kang's hand was disfigured and bent in such a hideous way thought impossible that he immediately discarded it into the mountain of scraps.

The Luminary pursues once more and the Knight begins to fire its Lascannon toward them. Alphric knows that even with his power, it is impossible to withstand such a thing at all. With his battle command toward his friends, the three immediately go separated paths so that even if the Knight focuses, it will only be one of them. That's what Alphric thought but he expects that the Knight's pilot will somehow surprise him.

And like what Alphric feared, the Scrap Knight fired its Lascannon once more as its beam then sweep across the entirety of the scrap mountain including where the three of them were. Alphric focuses his footing and managed to barely swerve around the Lascannon beam from contacting him. But it was such a dreadful close call that he does not wish to ever do something like that again though knowing his future, this will be far from the worst experience that he will inevitably face.

Kang managed to make his jump over the beam when it first aimed at his location and Mika barely got out for worse or wear when it nearly reached her although jumping a few meters and tumbling into spiky scrap is hardly the most ideal way to land but all of them got out, that is the most that Alphric glad that happened.

Emotion Level: 1.94

Kang and Mika managed to run down the hill of scrap and rejoined with Alphric. Mika looks like she has a lot of gashes on her face but with a single swipe of her hand and it is all pristine a new as if it has never happened. The power of Light perhaps goes a long way more than just power boost alone it seems.

The Heavy Stubbers fired once more at them and this time, Mika is sickened and tired of it already. She took out a surgical scissor and with a few twirls around her finger before she flings it straight at a blazing speed as fire trails behind. The Knight seems too focused on them to notice that blazing object that is no less apparent that is approaching the Knight. With a swift motion, it struck into the ammo feeder of the Heavy Stubbers and the ammunition instantly ignited and blew the feeding system apart.

"Mika, let me lend you a hand!" Kang said as he put his hand towards her hoping that she would grab it.

Without any thinking on her part, Kang then instantly spins around as soon as Mika placed her hand on him. As he picks up pace, the centrifugal forces that kept them spinning accelerate, and at the right moment, he then lets her go as she flew toward the Knight faster than how they are even running. He has a feeling that she is gonna hate him for it but the deed is already done.

Mika yells in panic as she flew toward the Knight alone, however seeing that this is the only opportunity to strike a hard blow, she quickly positioned herself as she was about to reach her target. In the next following second, she dropkicked into the mainframe of the Knight, hard. As she quickly repositioned herself in midair, she took out that scalding scalpel of her once more and slashes into the other leg of it.

Mere seconds stretched as she unleashes her unseen might and fury unto it. Kang and Alphric approach in no time as the Knight brings down its gigantic chainsword upon her.

Stagnant Blood

Scar of Sorrow

Alphric puts his guard up and stopped it from landing on Mika although he himself is being pushed into the concrete itself. As the force continue to bore and slowly dig through his psykic power, Kang immediately jumped into the fray to assist him at the crucial moment.

Violence

Chained Wrath

Kang then uses his shotgun and blasted the chainsword away from them. As the chainsword pushed away, Mika shattered the armor platings on its remaining other legs with the last blow. Kang took to this opportunity and continues to fire his shotgun at it only to be betrayed once more by his abysmal luck. As he completely emptied his shotgun, his frustration starts to rise as the massive chainsword of the Knight is about to bring down upon them once more. And at that moment, Kang yells in his rage as he then lunges forward with his instilled might that his feet stomped a large crack on the ground. With his shotgun holding above his head like a club, he swung down with all his fury and wrath. And at that moment, the stars aligned as if everything clicked into its gear.

It was probably the most powerful attack that all of them had ever seen coming from one person. No armaments, no explosives, no overwhelming augmentation. Just sheer force of will and power... Like how Alphric said, go big or go home.

The other leg of the Scrap Knight bent and its pilot make the last jump away from them that it could make before its bipedal system completely gave out from the damage. The combat shotgun in Kang's hand completely snapped in twain with the lost half nowhere to be seen. Discarding the broken shotgun, he quickly pursues the Knight as the rest picks up their pace.

Emotion Level: 1.96

The Lascannon fired once more but this time, the surprise it once has is completely gone. By this point, they have already read how the Knight may use it to take them down and it was more of a chore to avoid. The threat is still real but they have unfortunately become too accustomed to imminent danger after their senses and fervor were heightened to a degree unreal to normal people.

Kang and Mika sprint toward first thinking that they could methodically take down the Knight now that it has become immobile due to its legs being completely wrecked asunder. However, they forgot that it still has one functional weapon left. The gigantic chainsword that is its right arm. As they got closer to its range, it then swung its chainsword in a wide reach that would threaten to bisect both of them in one fell swoop. By the time they realized it, they could no longer halt or turn their movement away anymore.

Stagnant Blood

Scar of Sorrow

Overconfidence is an insidious killer and it was only by fortune that they were saved from demise as Alphric approaches fast from behind and shield all of them from that swing of the chainsword. The force is still tremendous as it sends all three of them back by a decent distance. They are still alive and combat-able but Alphric knew that they need to formulate a different plan now.

Kang has broken his shotgun and Mika couldn't approach any closer and her Autopistols just don't have enough kick to punch through the armor despite its recent incendiary capability. Alphric's ability right now is too defense focused and thus they are standing in an impasse of their own. However, during that close-call moment, Alphric noticed that one detail that might be the decisive move needed to take down that Knight.

It is standing on an abandoned railway and it right now completely lost its mobility. If there is a train nearby, he might be able to ram it down with it. He has the durability and defense and if there is anyone that could do it, it will be him. The power of Light enables the ability to convert matter into Lights and vice versa. Even if it has broken down beyond use, he will be able to fix the majority of it to fulfill the purpose.

"Kang! Mika! Stand your ground and distract it! I'll find a way to bring it down!" Alphric said as he quickly run towards the hill of scrap and ran on top of it.

The Knight noticed Alphric's unorthodox decision and instantly tried to charge its Lascannon to aim at him again. However, a sudden force altered its aim as the Lascannon blasts hit nowhere near Alphric at all.

"Forgot me already, piece of shit?" Kang said as he already raised his guard into his boxing stance.

Emotion Level: 1.97

Despite that Alphric wasn't near that Lascannon blast at all, it is still too close to comfort for him. Climbing up a hundred meters tall scrap pile is not an easy task let alone literally running atop of it without worrying about falling over by mistake. And yet despite all of that, he quickly makes it to the top and eventually runs down to the other side. He doesn't know how long it took him but all he knows is that any second he pondered should be spent finding that train as fast as he could.

Worst case scenario, that thing will probably be miles away from him and his friends will inevitably fight that Knight for a hope that never comes. Or that the train is buried so deep in scraps that getting it out or moving will be a task that can't be accomplished on his own. And had he continued to do so, he will inevitably lose this battle altogether.

That's if he was alone but has one more thing he can rely on. The built-in HUD vision that the power of Lights has given him. As something flashes in the distance away that only he could perceive, he instantly kicks into high gear as fast as he could. Now that he thought about it, he really should have just tried to run along the track instead of trudging through the mountain of scrap but the deed has already been done.

Seeing what he is seeking in sight. Alphric swiftly gets inside the train and is much unsurprised to see its ran down condition. The Underhive has long gone out of power and anything would be barely better than scrap metals. But using the power of Lights, he quickly analyzes its components and functionality as broken parts are highlighted in his vision. By expending some Lights that accumulated from their waging war with local Gangers which has far exceeded his requirements long ago.

After spending some few minutes, he managed to get all of the important parts to becoming functional but it still looks like rusted shit and only an empty husk as far as he is aware. However, that would be unnecessary right now as he intends to rescue his friends as soon as he could. Placing his hand on the control lever, Lights start to flow outward from his palm into the control panel itself. Suddenly, the long-dead machinery awakes to life once more as Alphric pushes the lever forward.

The train locomotive picks up speed until the scrap that littered the track no longer hinders. It plows through everything that stood its way and Alphric's Psykic Passive seemingly also affects the train itself because it shouldn't even last against the abuse it is putting through but here it is still loyal to his command.

By reaching its maximum operational speed, it then plows through the mountain scrap with an unstoppable force of its own. Now it just plows through the mountain of scraps in a tunnel that can only be described as for it alone.

Emotion Level: 1.98

Kang and Mika were practically at their wits' end. They knew clearly what they could do but they simply don't have the means to do so. And another is that they don't want to see if the power of Lights could bring them back from death if they made a suicide charge toward that Scrap Knight. That Knight is also staring at them anticipating their incoming attacks as it is about to charge its Lascannon once more. Alphric however seems to have slipped completely from the pilot's mind and thus its focus is fully on them.

"Don't tell me that we were abandoned by him... No... He simply can't". Kang said as he tries to deny the potential outcome but his Ganger wisdom has never failed him until this point.

"Please do not stray toward that thought... Despair is contagious and things fall apart sooner because of it. Please do not say it out loud". Mika said as she covers Kang's mouth.

Kang's comment has merit on its own but this time... he decided to believe in Mika. Alphric has never failed him despite being younger than him and he wants to believe that this is Alphric at work once more. The Lascannon crackles once more as both of them prepare to evade it once more for this desperate assault. But before it could even fire toward them, another "divine" intervention occur.

A train rammed straight into the Knight with immense force and pushed its aim drastically away from Mika and Kang. As the beam's direction completely missed them and continue to make a line toward the mountain of scraps, both Mika and Kang stood in shock that something unreal yet reasonable happened in front of them. Also, the Lascannon installed on the Knight was crushed to scrap from the impact of the train.

Both the train and the Knight that it crashed into continue to plow through the mountain of scrap and its cabooses that still remain linked by rust alone follow its brisk pace. Both Mika and Kang broke through their confusion and dumbfound and quickly chase after so that they don't get left behind. This was all Alphric's efforts and they felt guilty for thinking that he has abandoned them despite Alphric clearly didn't.

They barely missed the last train home as they got into the last caboose before the entirety of the train completely disappear into the tunnel.

Alphric however is still focusing on keeping the train running. Although the Light expenditure is low because it is an old train, he still has to keep it functioning because having a multi-ton construct blocking your way without something else to keep the train going is a disaster waiting to happen should he waver for any moment. The whole thing has been desolated for too long and he may have to reform the whole thing after this mess assuming they will get out of here.

As his thought drifts into the distance beyond, he didn't even notice that the entire train has gotten out of the mountain but the Knight is still clinging onto the locomotive itself. The lower chassis was forcefully ripped apart but it is still functioning. And while Alphric still has his mind flying somewhere, the Knight then swung down its chainsword upon the locomotive, threatening to split the locomotive itself in two.

!

Stagnant Blood

Scar of Sorrow

Emotion Level: 1.99

Alphric raised his guard up just at the right moment as the gigantic chainsword still boring into his arm. The blade itself has cut through the rooftop of the locomotive but fortunately has yet to cut into any important part that is keeping this train running.

In reality, he should have been dead where he stood but his willpower and Psykic Passives have made the Knight's last-ditch effort null and void. What should have only taken an instant now suddenly ceased for eternity as Alphric's flesh halted a chainsaw that is made to cut even steel and ceramite like butter.

The Knight pulled out the chainsword once more prepared for another swing only to have it interrupted by certain someone. A very rough kick into the pilot's hull managed to temporarily disrupt it by Mika who was thrown by Kang toward it. After that escape from the valley of endless scrap, the area around them is surprisingly cleared and thus Mika and Kang managed to climb to the rooftop with no issue. They suspected that even a train ramming at it won't be enough and they were right to believe so. Tenacity is often seen in place it is not supposed to, much like how Imperium should have collapsed long ago but here they are.

The pilot regained its composure, but this time Alphric won't be able to stop it. It disrupted Alphric's channeling of the train and it is gradually slowing down because of the weight added to the locomotive and Alphric not fueling the train with Light. If they are any slower, they will lose their only chance to stop the Knight from just destroying this locomotive and their newfound hope of escape.

Leaving only Kang as the strength-capable man in combat, he rushes forward knowing that this may end badly for him or even for all. But he knew that if he just let it be like this, then it is all lost. The Imperium of Man is built on the countless sacrifices of its subjects, whether unwanted or of martyrdom. And now, Kang has to make that hard decision.

He steps forward knowing his end, knowing against his best wisdom. For some hard-fought victory often goes hand-in-hand with sacrifices.

Fortunately, though, he is spared from making that decision.

Emotion Level: 2.00

Resonance Link Unleash

!

Stagnant Blood + Scar of Sorrow

Words of Emperor: For this part, play Rules of Nature - Metal Gear Rising

The unthinkable happened... not even Kang, not even Mika, not even Alphric, not even the Knight pilot who did the deed. Something so outlandish has happened yet none of them actually believe what they perceived.

Kang stopped the chain blade much like how Alphric did. Even though his foot is denting through the roof plating from the sheer force applied, it was clear that Kang is holding the upper hand.

RULES OF NATURE!

Kang pushed the gigantic chainsaw away cleaving him any further. His arm is still functioning and he finds it way too unreal beyond what he has seen until now. He is using Alphric's Psykic Passives and to feel it in action is too surreal for his belief. But he snapped out of it quickly and stopped another attempt on his life.

Scar of Sorrow + Chained Wrath + Violence + Burning Heart =} Prometheus's Resentment

And they run when the sun comes up. With their lives on the line. (ALIVE!)

Kang felt his body burning with willpower and violence. Not of the good kind but the necessity. He then instantly held onto the chainsword and held its teeth back on the sharp side with bare hands. But as the power synchronizes, the whirling teeth of the chain blade start to melt within his hand and the mechanism inside is slowly breaking down and bellowing acrid smoke as it becomes progressively proven that Kang is overpowering it.

Then he lifted the Knight straight from the pivot point, which was the worst possible way to lift something. Especially if it weighs multiple tons. If the pilot could scream, it would be very loud and full of fear and panic. Kang then spun around on the axis then threw it forward with all he has.

For a while (No choice) Gotta follow the laws of the wild!

Mika was left completely baffled by how they were so overwhelmed by its chainsword alone now suddenly just turned the table upon them. However, she felt that something inside her is surging as if a fire caught onto flammable. Her battle instinct is telling her of an opportunity and she must act now. Decided to take heed regardless, she jumped into the fray.

Taking out her scalpel once more, she activates her Spirit Resonance much like usual but something has changed. Something is different for she is feeling a power that is so overwhelming.

Ember of Hope + Burning Heart + Violence + Chained Wrath =} Twilight Fury

By jumping into the fray, she did literally as Psykic power courses through her body. Her leap of faith straight up scorched the rusted metal into pitch black with the heat still emanating when she jumped to the Scrap Knight while it is still airborne and landed on its chainsword. The scalpel then flares up with so much fire that what was a knife turned into a long sword in length just from sheer heat that was unleashed.

Within a blink of an eye, she rushed forward. And as she runs forwards, she continues to slash the chainsword repeatedly as she goes. The scorching heat of it rends through the metal like a literal hot knife through butter and when she reached the joint that connects the chainsword and the Scrap Knight itself, she leaped into the air and land a downward slash. With a single true blow, the chainsword was cleaved from the Knight as the rest of the blade become molten fragments that fell separately from the Scrap Knight.

Mika landed first on the track and jumped back on the train while the link remains before even the Knight landed. And when it does, the train ran over it as it went under the wheel.

With their lives on the line (No choice) Out here only the strong survive!

Completely disarmed of any armament, the Scrap Knight is ultimately left powerless but its hull durability persists as its body threatens to derail this train altogether. As Mika and Kang made their return to the train control room, they saw Alphric is channeling Lights into the thing to keep it running. The two quickly joined up with Alphric as they placed each of their hand in the same place as Alphric. It comes naturally to him so it must be the same for him, that's what they want to believe.

Of a sudden, they felt an intrinsic link that binds all of them together spiritually. They felt their souls resonate with each other as their power becomes more than the sum of its part. As the battle reaches its final moment, all their hands are placed on the acceleration lever as Lights start to surge toward.

All for one, one for all.

Pale Hand + Scar of Sorrow + Rise from the Ashes + Burning Heart + Violence + Chained Wrath =} Rage Against the Dying

The lever pushed beyond its current limit, beyond the rusted mechanism that barely held. The only thing that kept it intact is the Light essence that is flowing like veins through the human body.

Spiritually linked, they all yelled together in unison as the lever is pushed to its final hard limit. Their powers resonated with one another as the train's rusted appearance altered in reflection of their power. The wheels set ablaze, its speed accelerates like a ravaging beast, and its rusted body rejuvenated with purifying flame as it is cleared of rust yet filled with no fewer battle scars.

As for the Knight's hull that was run over and stuck between the train wheels, the combined force of all slowly cut and crush through. As its body crumbles, the pilot has clearly no choice but to accept that it was thoroughly defeated. A second later, the train crushed the remains of the Scrap Knight with its sheer force alone before continuing along the track like it's nobody's business.

Scrap Knight has been slain. +100,000 Light

Only silence and the sound of the train going unusually smooth on its track remain. It was at this moment that all three of them felt great relief. That they survived and managed to get through this seemingly desperate and endless battle.

And after what they did, no Gangers will ever decide to pick a fight with them anymore. At least not after seeing just how unflinching they are fighting for what could essentially be their greatest achievement with nothing lost. With all honesty, they were glad that they no longer have to deal with such a thing anymore.

"Thank the Emperor that it is over..." Mika said as she collapses to her knee. This was too much for her and she couldn't help herself but collapse to her knee.

"By the way... what were we fighting for again?" Kang said as he sat down on the floor, hard.

Such an act they performed is only because everything they fought for is on the line at that very moment. It will never happen again in the same degree or manner for that very degree of power only arise when hope is but a sliver of light left in the abyss and on the verge of being completely snuffed out.

They pray that they never have to reach that level of synchronization for the sake of survival but the brutality of the Underhive is making that decision much and much more preferable than ever.

Decided that he could at least leave his train unsupervised. He checks his holo-watch once more and saw that they have reached their requirement for the Archive. Now their next target is 250,000 Lights and it unlocks Manufactorum where their Tech and Military Science can be applicated and manufactured at a larger scale. Also, some stuff can't be made in Gear Workshops due to a lack of tools and restrictions.

It is very clear that they are expanding the scale of conflicts for sooner or later, three people can't fight a war by themselves.

With the power of Enlightenment Protocol visibly demonstrated, he... all of them knew that even just one mistake reflected upon could enable them to do things on an impossible scale for mortals like them. And the quest for completely spiritual clarity is only going to be a long journey that they know for a foreseeable future.

Fatigues settle in and all three of them collapse on the cold floor of the train. The train proceeds for a while before the Light that imbued fades away and it comes to a closing halt.

---

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The Distance Between

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---

"Finally... Libert just woke up for a few moments to permit me to inspect the current situation of the Hive. And no doubt that just in time before other Inquisitors will barge in just to get formal permission to wreck shit on this already strained Hive City..." Chavin said as he looks down at the scroll with Libert's personal signature on it. Just what hell that goes on long before that drove him to the breaking point?

He waves his other hand at his retinue which waited right outside for him. Mostly just guardsmen with a few Cadian Kaskrin mixed upon along with some Tech-Priests. Inspecting living conditions and general livelihood requires a considerable amount of testimony and comparison. He once saw a Planetary Governor literally work their citizen to the point their gene degraded to the point the populace is incapable of breeding. It was obvious that they would try to replace their population but the Inquisitorial checkup busted that plan and the Governor was removed from the position, the hard way.

Life finds a way but there's still a limit to how resilient holy humanity's form really is. That kind of abuse and disposal of human life is too wasteful and there are more malicious intents in that case than necessary evils.

"Took you a long while, although the Hive Governor's guesthouses are good. I hardly have any rest just because of how glamorous things tend to hide a shady underbelly". A Kaskrin comments as he crosses his arms together. While Ordo Civitatis has little to do with direct combat, one would be surprised just how hard people will try to hide how miserable they treat others. Having some elite troops in your retinue will help immensely and especially setting the authority that you aren't to be messed with.

"If it's action y'all yearn for then I'm afraid you will be disappointed. While violence isn't out of question, it will be far from what this line of works preferred method." Chavin said as he approaches closer to the assembled retinue of his.

Silence follows afterward, Chavin expected this already. Communication between Inquisitors and their retinue while far from the best, won't hurt to stay on speaking terms with them. If anything, he is doing far better than average since a lot of Inquisitors don't treat their retinue like fellow men in combat but disposable bodies to throw at a problem. It may be the preferred method of the Major Ordos but here is a different matter entirely.

"Sir, where do we go first?" A Guardsman from behind asked Chavin.

"To the Lower Hive, of course. Since we are going for a complete assessment of Vespera, this is going to be a long trip and I'll take no responsibility if any of you piss the locals off. Now, we are going to take a transit train and I hope none of you got into the bad side of Spire dwellers since they are full of shit". Chavin said as he seemingly follow a course of direction.

For the majority of the retinue, they have no idea of how to even guess what's going on in the mind of an Inquisitor. Those who do have seen way too much shit and won't speak for the others since it is far from the best intention and that they shouldn't bear that burden like them.

The rest of them followed the Inquisitor posthaste for they already universally know what a pissed Inquisitor would do to them for disobeying.

...

1 hour later...

...

"So this is a Spire's transit station? This is too grand for someone as filthy as me... " A Guardsman in Chavin's retinue said as he looks over the surrounding atmosphere of the station at his first entry step.

While Chavin only has a moment of shuddering upon seeing the luxury and scale that this train station showed since he often came across places with similar buildings like this but he was no less surprised at first. His retinue however was left dumbfounded for their entire life may go away without ever knowing such luxury at all. Then it hits them just how ridiculous the gap between the nobles and the serfs is.

"This is what a Hive Spire's transit station looks like?" One guardsman asked as he has never had the chance to see such a thing before.

"Remember, take all of these in your mind so that you have the comparison between Hive Spire and lower levels. While Twilight has little need for uplift, its situation is now in desperation for any help it could have after that horrific disaster all of you saw on the way we came here". Chavin said as he leads his retinue further while receiving some weird looks from other Spire Nobles nearby.

Chavin's retinue was already briefed up on what has happened. The Collapse Point where Hive Sector 11 collapsed into the miles beneath the ground. Nobody could tell why it happened but it has happened and brought down a large chunk of Vespera's power system into a screeching halt along with its industry. The city may function now on its auxiliary power but without major alteration or backup plan, even the auxiliary power plant will fail and Vespera will fall into its perpetual twilight.

With gold-plated walls and marbled walkways, this place was no average transit station much like those few times that these Guardsmen have a chance of going. But the memory of it was often not a very good one unlike here. Made of plasteel, glass, and white duracrete, the station seems to bring the outside in, with light pouring in through the windows and skylights.

It was too welcoming and opulent that they wish their time here could have been a bit longer. But woe is it to be a part of an Inquisitor's retinue.

People come and go, and trains move at blistering speed stopping in mere seconds without harming their passengers before it picks up the pace and moves just as fast as before. And despite being in a relatively busy hour, it was far from being unbearably noisy but pleasant in fact.

"Sir, your ticket please?" A serf in a ticket booth asked the Inquisitor as calmly as he could. Although he has his place in the Hive Spire, he doesn't feel enjoyed at the luxury it presents at all for each moment is awfully tense at the idea that he may get on the wrong side of a Spire Noble.

Chavin flashes his Inquisition's badge to show that he has the authority to override. However, the serf seems to fear the Noble that hired him to do this job more than the Inquisitor himself.

"Sir, I already know just how important you are. But please actually pay a ticket or they will make me suffer because there's a mismatch between my quota and actual passengers". The serf said as he trembled in fear.

While the serf's position is easily replaceable. Chavin decided that he will be respectful this time just for its sake. He knows just how far and dastard a Hive Noble could go just for some petty revenge and felt that he should be better than that.

"Sigh... Do Hive Governor's permission and signature count?" Chavin said as he doesn't have any local currency.

The serf gulped before yelping a single "yes". While the retinue passes through the gate, Chavin has a feeling that the serf's manager will give him hell just for it alone.

As they wait only for a few moments, a luxurious magnetic rail-accelerated bullet train stopped for their departure. An overwhelmingly extravagant train like this only has a few dozens of Spire Nobles at best and it circulates around the entire Hive Spire like a mechanical clockwork with unerring precision and timing.

Just when they thought the outside looks so lavish, the inside of it only further dazzled them more.

The atmosphere inside is clean, with no signs of filth except the retinue themselves. Butlers and serfs move around serving Nobles as they lavishly drink wines as if they were any part dignified. The furniture is made with the finest and most comfortable textiles dares imaginable. Even a single touch felt like heaven's grace that they will never forget. And all of this was just daily things for the Spire Nobles.

"I will never be able to live my life without comparing it to this place alone". One Kaskrin said as he tries to hold himself from indulging.

The train has already moved before any of the personnel in the retinue even noticed. As the scenery outside moves past them at a blazing speed and yet they feel no motion at all, this is what truly feels out of this world for them. This sheer speed dwarves the few fast-option vehicles they have and little they know just about the way this thing function at all.

The few Tech-Priests are shaking in excitement for they have joined the retinue just for the mere chance of getting to Twilight. Since it actually has a decent habitable environment despite being literal Forge World that spews contaminant everywhere but Vespera. And secondly, it was a place where a majority of DAoT Tech still remains along with their manufactory no matter if they remain secret or undisclosed. This train was one of them.

One of the Tech-Priests even approaches the driver's cabin door and bangs their mechadendrite on it just to demand a chance for close inspection of the train's system.

"Stay your ground and know your etiquette. The last thing you want is to piss any Spire Residence with your selfish desire and annoyance". Chavin said as one of the Kaskrins drags the Tech-Priest back despite their protest.

"Um, sir? Can I ask about one thing? If this train is so superior to those below then why don't they just arrive in minutes then?" One of the Guardsmen asked as the entire retinue is receiving glares for standing in a group and obstructing other serfs and butlers from working.

"First off, sit somewhere already. And second, that's clearly capable but why should you? What's the point of the entirety of this train's decoration purpose? Because if that's the case, the Spire would just hook their teleporters everywhere instead of building a transit system in the first place" Chavin said as he sat down on the least comfortable chair on this train which still look far more relaxing than it looks.

The retinue then immediately surrounds the Inquisitor's position. Though they want to explore this train to their hearts' content, they aren't allowed to do so until Chavin's allowance.

He took out a scroll from his satchel and placed it across the table in front of all of them.

"This is a map of a Hive Sector's transit stations. All are separated between layers from the Lower Hive to the Spire. Designs between these stations even on the same layer differ regardless. This one I'm showing you is of a Spire". Chavin said as he analyzes the content of the map that he managed to borrow (read: stole) from the Hive Governor's file cabinets.

The map of the current Hive Spire Sector's transit station is shown and seems to be considerably large in comparison to what they know before. Such as Imperial Guard's garrison base or warehouse but in an acceptable scale and margin. They skim through the designs and structure although some pretend to know what it is about. This is all basics to Chavin but some people just can't wrap their minds around it for war is the only thing they are built for. The Kaskrins can only claim that they knew a bit but they knew how to uphold the pretense better than most here.

The Tech-Priests seem to nod in understanding and attention. If anyone could get what they are looking at, it would be them at the very least. The few scribes that Chavin brought along for record try to dumb it down so that the more illiterate of the retinue could get what they are doing but the vast distance of even Imperium's language makes it hard to do so.

It's a mess that most are already aware of but avoid raising their voices about it. Disagreeing with an Inquisitor is the fastest way to six feet under if anyone who's been part of an Inquisitor's retinue already knows of it.

"Tell me if there's any part you don't understand about. This job is important and I need to make sure everyone here understands what they are hearing". Chavin said as he

Silence for a little while and Chavin is not surprised for the stigma of Inquisitors discarding lives haphazardly ran deep in the heart of Imperial citizens. Then a few hands were raised from the new hires that he appointed before this job.

While Chavin didn't smile visibly on his face, he felt a small hint of gratitude that his goodwill soften that scars even if for a little bit. To prove that being cruel is counter-intuitive to this line of work.

---

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An Ordinary Life

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---

Eventide Merchant Guild, Middle Hive, Vespera, Twilight

As the sun rises once more on the slowly deteriorating Hive City of Vespera. Reinhardt once more completed a very dangerous delivery mission right during the time that Gangers are most active. Many things could have turned out wrong but he has accomplished his job with flying color. Now that he returns to the HQ to receive his earnings for that dangerous job.

While he may have gotten used to the overwhelming dangers that continue to multiply and stack on one another. What he will never be comfortable with are the praises that the guild personnel shower him with every time make his returns. So much that he felt undeserving of it at all.

Worse is that they think he is the second coming of Alphric. A man that is worthy of his Legacy as the most accomplished merchant of the guild.

And he watches as his credit raises sharply which will last him for months. Many would think that he would take a break for a while to enjoy this hard-earned but well-deserved money. That's the normal logic of people who see him but Reinhardt doesn't think of it the same way as them.

Just as he is about to leave, a certain someone's presence makes him stop for a brief moment before he turned around once more. That is when he came face-to-face with the Guild Master himself, Harry.

"It seems that you have something to personally ask me to deal with. Keep it brief and simple will you?" Reinhardt spoke as his face remains obscured by the cap and hoodie coat.

"While it may be that, it is a bit more selfish than that. Can you show me your face? Since I would be a rather shameful Guild Master as I am if I don't even know the best member that I have." Harry said as he tries to make this conversation as civilized as he can.

Reinhardt stood for a moment with his back toward Harry before an audible sigh was heard. He then turns around and removes his hat and hoodie which reveals his facial probably for the first time in a long while. Not that any new member would tell since he was embellished about how much he is mysterious like how he is legendary.

A slight mix of contempt and anger, probably as a representation of how dangerous his line of work really is. Accompanied with a scowl that lingers for eternity and more. From the facial reading alone, Harry is actually a bit surprised to see that he is younger than how his disposition is displayed. Gray-silver hair that was unkempt in a color that was like Harry.

"Are we done, now? If you don't have anything important to talk about then excuse my presence". Reinhardt said before as he puts on his cap back on again.

"I almost forgot, I came to meet you for this exact reason in mind. I'm needing you for this particular transporting job". Harry said as he stops Reinhardt from leaving the room too early.

"What is it? Is this something urgent that demands completion in a short time?". Reinhardt asks as his one hand still places on the knob.

"Not exactly, this one in particular demands very tight-knit cooperation between multiple members, and I'm afraid you are the only one left that I know to be able to lead". Harry said as he continues to keep the tone in check.

"Then I'm afraid you asked the wrong person for the job. My line of job is that I do the most dangerous one where none would dare. Now if you excuse me-". Reinhardt said before he was intention was suddenly interrupted.

"That's why I chose you precisely. I speak this as the Guild Master of this entire Guild. This job demands a level of dedication and teamwork that very few could reach. The entire Guild's continued existence is hinged on this job and you are among the only ones left that I could rely on." Harry said as the entire atmosphere suddenly turned tense.

The tension started to rise and both sides doesn't know how to proceed. Reinhardt ponders if he really should waste his livelihood on a job that is most likely not suitable for him. But as seconds start to pass, Reinhardt decided for he knew that there is no declining this request at all for it came from the Guild Master himself.

"I see that I have no right to decline considering who you are. But let me tell you that I will be far from the best subject for this job you have". Reinhardt said as he places one hand to cover his face briefly.

"I know but we have unfortunately run out of options. The other member that I could think of is separated by the Collapsed Zone and is trying to find their way back here. The fate of the Guild lies on you now". Harry said as he places one hand on Reinhardt's shoulder trying to remain mutual.

"Yuria... I see. It is much visibly clear that I must take this job because while I could see she is able to accomplish it, it wouldn't be without fatal repercussion that would affect the Guild later down the line". Reinhardt said as he puts his hand down and takes a deep breath.

He doesn't know if knowing who Yuria really is a boon or a misfortune. The best way to describe 'who she is' is with one word. Carnage.

Her body is contempt and her sword is vengeance. Hatred engraved her soul and so is her way of living. The only reason she is with the Guild is that she would be more lucrative as a target due to being a merchant. Her waging her eternal war against the criminal and despicable resides in Vespera itself. Apparently, her family was killed in a Gangs dispute that ended up in massive collateral damage in civilian housing areas.

And everywhere she goes, destruction and massacre followed. And if it weren't for the fact that the Arbites just allow it because it makes their job is purging crime easier, she would have been behind bars or six feet under long ago. Strangely enough, a lot of people see her as a paragon that upholds justice itself despite all she does is just sowing destruction against anything that stood in her path. Many attempted the same or followed her but every time, only she returns.

He shudders as he himself once saw her in action from the distance. To say that he actually has pyrophobia is exaggerating but the mental traumas involved are of no doubt concerned.

Most guild merchants work tightly with one another and so in reality, to say that Reinhardt is the lone wolf may not be wrong but the true lone wolf in the Guild is her and only her alone.

"Do you really wish to cross that line of no return?" Reinhardt said as he rethinks about that remark the Guild Master made before he decided to commit to this job.

"No... Not after you said that..." Harry said as he rethinks his choice again.

"Then take me to those I'm destined to work with. I have a feeling that I'm going to be stuck with them for a long while". Reinhardt said as he sees the Guild Master nods before heading in a direction.

Here his fame precedes him again, and people are worshiping and idolizing what doesn't exist once more.

After a little while, he found himself once more standing among a group of people that is strangely too diverse for his own taste. As the Guild Master explains the situation to the group first aside from Reinhardt, he decided that he should assess each member to see how well he would fare along with.

The first is a girl with short brown hair and somewhat tanned skin. Wearing on her head is a straw hat that would otherwise cost an immense amount of credit in this Hive City for hay and straw is almost unnatural to be grown here. Let alone have enough to be made into a hat. Wearing over is a jacket and beneath is a short red dress and jeans. She is wearing round glasses and her eyes remain locked on the small notebook in her hand which she continues to write in as the Guild Master speaks.

The next is a large and bulky old man with gray hair and a beard who is wearing plate armor. If his guess is correct, it would be Carapace Armor that only the elites among the Imperial Guards have their chance of getting in their hand. But based on its grayed-coloring and condition, it was most likely only maintained with makeshift tools and not going through proper channels. On his shoulder is a battle-ax that most likely has a significant history behind it. On his face is a solemn look that tells he has seen many battles and been part of them.

The next to last is a man whose hair and beard connect with each other seamlessly like a lion's mane. Not too old but certainly past his prime, he is wearing what can easily be described as a generic biker Ganger with some protective gears but something about him is more different than the aforementioned comparison. There is a certain vibe of dignity but mixed with it is... underlying hesitation? Needless to say that the man is putting on a front but if anything, it was a sturdy one that fulfills its purpose.

Last but not least, a girl with long blonde hair in a blue dress that fits more on an Agri-World. An appearance that is too out of place in a line of business where life and death have but a thread that separates them. And here she is, without a care in this world when she pets her canine as its tail wags toward her. A huge chance that she actually didn't hear anything at all about what the Guild Master just said. Reinhardt however laments the fact that he couldn't be as carefree as her for his duty stood above all.

"Reinhardt. Introduce yourself". Harry whispered barely as he turned around.

"The name is Reinhardt Ozborne, all of you may have known me as Twilight Raider or something similar like that. I'm here to join you as leadership for this job. If any of you have something to say then do it so right now". Reinhardt said as this is probably the first time he has ever spoken his full name.

"Uh, Let me introduce myself. My name is Sophia Formido, my previous job was as a scribe before I join the Guild as its member. You see, I spent a lot of time indoors and separated from human interaction most of the time. With the exception of traveling in transit or to distant places, I didn't interact much with anyone at all. That's until my whole workplace fell into the Collapse Zone and the rest is history. So while I had a lot of knowledge of Vespera's whereabouts and history, my streetsmart and acumen probably left a lot to desire so... May I rely on your wisdom since you are someone who clearly praised upon by your skills." The girl with the straw hat said to him enthusiastically.

Reinhardt looks at her for a while her eyes and sees that it is too sparkling for her own good. Although she is willing to learn, the more important question is whether or not she could learn from the mistake she is definitely going to create. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, although leaving one permanently crippled isn't out of question.

"My name is Stannum Carl. Veteran Guardsman of the Imperial Guards. I have seen too many battles for my own good and only intended to retire peacefully here in the place I once belonged. But it seems that things have truly gone so badly that my experience in the frontline is necessary for this job. I know a lot about warfares of all kinds, from tight urban combat to empty fields as far as you could see. So while this old sod has a lot of things, I have grown too rusty to applicate any of this, and thus I intended that the younger folks here can take point and do the right things. Hope that we can work amicably together". The old man in grayed armor said to Reinhardt.

Reinhardt looks at the old man for a little while. His body is massive and towering all over many. If what Stannum said is true then he is someone to be feared regardless of position. As one said, beware of old people in a profession where men die young. There's no doubt just how the extent of Carl's prowess in both physical and mental acumen. But if there's anything that Reinhardt fears is that this old man has very strict rulesets and codes that enables his survival to this point. To allow him to be chewed out by the cruelty of the endless battlefront in the first place.

That there will ultimately be unreconcilable differences. A rift that occurs between Reinhardt's adaptive ways of doing and Stan's hardcoded and unmoving decision. The flexible with the iron strict.

Decided that he is growing way too paranoid, he derails that line of thought and decided that he will think further when the pushes come to shove.

A brief silence occurs before the lion-maned man suddenly burst out of his drifting thought and introduces himself.

"Crap, oh right. My name is Leonhardt Ignavus, sorry for my slow reaction just before and it won't happen again. It's just like you may guess, I'm an ex-Ganger who decided to join up with the Guild for guaranteed safety and livelihood. Let us put it like that, shall we?" The man in generic biker Ganger's outfit said in a quick moment before Reinhardt even processes all of them.

Reinhardt stares at him for a while, seeing the dissimilarity between the display he did and the image he tried to uphold didn't escape Reinhardt's sight. This is especially worrying to him because he could stand a brash and foolishly brave Ganger but a cunning one? That's a very bad thing altogether whether on the same side or against. The only assurance he has is that Harry chose him of all people for this job thus some guaranteed that he won't ditch the group altogether. But even then, he will put it in good faith that Harry's eyes and recognition of people didn't fail him there right now.

And finally, this one inattentive girl that's probably going to impact everyone's capability to do this job. Reinhardt has no idea just what is it that makes her part of this group. She doesn't even listen to what Harry just said, probably not even aware of what her job is or why she is here.

"Hey, do you work here? Because you seem too out of place and not being attentive for the job". Reinhardt said as he approaches closer and places his hand on her shoulder.

"Yikes! No touching!" The blonde girl said as she suddenly jolted away from Reinhardt just from the first contact alone.

"You know that this place is a Guild's property, right? Unless you have permission or proof that you belong to the Guild then you better off leave before worse consequence befall". Reinhardt said as he tries to interrogate her.

"Hey, I have you know that I belong to the Guild too! See this?" The blonde girl reacts grumpily for a moment before showing her Guild's card.

Reinhardt examines it for a little while as she basically shoves it in his face. What he noticed is that the date she joined the Guild officially was... a week ago. That... that is too little for someone like her to join this mission that basically dictates the life and death of the Guild.

"I see, I see... Just stop shoving the damn thing in my face". Reinhardt said as he orders her to stop which it took Harry to stand in between them to stop.

"Kind of a bad start to go with your colleague, isn't it?" Harry said as he sighs at the mischief that the blonde girl just did.

"You tell me already. What is her name, by the way, I couldn't just keep referring to her as 'that blonde girl' you know?" Reinhardt said as he turns his focus on the Guild Master.

"Her name is Dorothy Aurum and she will also join your retinue in this mission". Harry explains in short detail for Reinhardt.

"That's it? Just that, a girl whose experience doesn't even stretch more than a week is being assigned this job and he just let it flies like that? No explanation of what she could do, no explanation of what she supposed to fulfill". Reinhardt said under his voice as he thinks about why this is being allowed in the first place.

"Dorothy, can you tell me what can you bring to the table? Because I don't think you have explained why you are chosen for this job". Reinhardt asked out of concern because he doesn't think that she is capable enough for this job.

"Oh, uh... it's my little canine here!" Dorothy said with a mischievous smile as she picks up her canine.

Reinhardt thinks that while it is good to have one, it felt way too niche for him. They are on a set path with little deviation or search so a canine most likely not going to fulfill much. Don't get him wrong, he has seen investigation canines that help with Arbite Investigators in cases where there's no apparent path to go forward. But those things were gene-wrighted to the point they were more of a bio-engineered killing machine than an actual canine.

Still, this doesn't subside his worry one bit at all and the Guild Master's nonchalant attitude toward this doesn't make this better.

Reinhardt has many questions to ask about his retinue but he has a feeling that the Guild Master will shut him down if he asks any of them in front of him.

"It seems that we have no more questions to discuss. Here, take these Upper Hive's permission passes since your destination will take it there." The Guild Master said as he hands them plasteel cards with intricate designs on them. It seems that even the clients paid the expense for them which only shows the criticality of this mission.

"And I wish the best for all of you..." Said the Guild Master before turning and moving away from them.

Reinhardt only stares at Harry's back for a while but the tone beneath that Reinhardt picked up is what truly worries him.

Miniscule at best but it was melancholic and filled with bitter regret.

---

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Omake
Where's My Mother?

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---

Somewhere in Fortress of Hera, Maccrage

This is probably the first time in the whole century that Guilliman even managed to get a day off for himself. The constant mess that the logistics and administration of the greater Imperium have really pushed him to a breaking point that he even admitted that he isn't aware of having. But since he got one day for himself, he decided that he should do what he wanted for himself the most.

The last time he slept, he flats out have a month of coma that his subordinates thought they lost him again and he woke up when they almost interred him to the Emperor-damned life-support again. One man can't be a focal point of conduit no matter what much like how a machine shouldn't have a singular component as a critical part.

So yeah, sleep is again out of question and things haven't been any better ever since he took a rest. At least it hasn't instantly deteriorated once more the second he took his eyes off it.

"What should I do today? Perhaps I should go and talk with people around to know them better". Guilliman said as he wanders around the hall of the fortress.

No matter how long one's life is. Their memory of it would be short if it is just a repeat of things with too minuscule variations, times would fly pretty fucking fast whether or not they live for a hundred years or long outlast this galaxy. Most of Guilliman's memory is just paperwork with more of it. Sprinkle some more is fighting direct confrontation with Chaos' force and you have what is essentially Gulliman's biography up until now.

Time to make some more meaningful memory than just boredom now.

He first enters the largest Library within the entirety of Ultramar Segmentum, located entirely in this fortress. Books from all eras from long past to recent are all stored here for all serfs and Astartes to use. There is some forbidden lore that obviously is withheld from standard serfs for a good reason in mind but it is explained in great detail why they shouldn't. Much like that misfortunate time when an extremely smutty erotic of him and Yvraine were discovered in the general section for serfs that up until now, no one could find who is responsible and why.

Not a great time he added. But it did bridge that gap between him and Yvraine when they try to find who had even done that.

Even if not reading a book, the atmosphere is what he enjoyed the most out of the place. The few place of sanity that remains in a galaxy consumed by madness and Guilliman goes to great length to ensure it.

A group of people in robes carrying books and datapads entered the Library and Guilliman instantly recognizes who they are. They are his historitors (read: historians) who are dedicated to recovering a full and accurate accounting of the history of Mankind unmarred by religious superstition or political bias.. Ever since the Chronostrife War, the records and archives of Imperium were filled with endless contradictions, zealotries, and censors. Redacts sometime even crossed and deleted chunks of records with no mercy. If the people don't learn what they failed at, they are only dooming themselves to repeat said mistakes. And much like the grim fashion of the galaxy, most aren't given the second chance to amend.

Curiosity got the better of him as he approaches the group. Logos Historica Verita as he recalled when he first created them. Ever since then, they faced no less adversary namely the Inquisition. It would be disrespectful if he doesn't give them a job well done for they are going against the rigid superstition and power that be that was built upon for so long.

"I... Imperial Regent! I thought it is just words of legend passed down but... It is you!" One of the historitors exclaimed as he saw the massive figure making his approach.

And all of a sudden, the rest of the historitors quickly dropped their belongings right on the floor and kneeled in front of him. Guilliman can only let out an uncomfortable sigh before telling them to drop the act.

"Sir Guilliman! We are grateful to be in your presence". One of the historitors said out loud much to Guilliman's dismay.

"All of you don't have to keep praising me like some sort of divine beings or Emperor. Just keep it civil, shall we? I'm here to give you good praise for a job well done. Most of the time, a historitor team may end up lost or severely damaged and it's a good thing none of it happened here". Guilliman said as he gives a thumbs up hoping that they understand that it is a sign of approval.

A brief confusion washed over the team and Guilliman realized that he is once more fucking disconnected from the people around him. He had only hoped that he would at least have normal interactions with people only to have that expectation dashed again. Trying to not show his displeased expression, he turned away at a brisk pace before vanishing into the rest of the gargantuan shelves that consisted of this library.

Guilliman sighed once more, the distance between him and the baseline is so vast that the sky and earth itself are probably closer than this wedge that stood between them. He wanders the hall between the bookcases and looks over for anything to read. Just about anything that could help him distract from that shameful display before.

Then something suddenly caught his eyes. Something long lost ago that he could barely remember. That one particular thing that by all possibility shouldn't have remained here.

"It... it's my old diary! What is it doing here!?" Guilliman's thought ran wildly as he saw it. By all possible means, a book shouldn't have ever survived 10 thousand years into the future. Not even plasteel that the Imperium's industry is using and churning out.

Guilliman carefully takes the thing out of the shelf. By the looks of it, he must have misplaced it somewhere on the shelf and forgot about it entirely back when he was a mere kid in here. Ten thousand years later, its color has faded away, its page nearly corroded into illegibility and the language written could barely be deciphered by him. It was written in old Maccragian which is practically an extinct language.

With utmost care that he could, he flicks each page as he reads his own childish handwriting. Letting the memory of the past play vividly in his mind in a theater that is constructed by nostalgia. The day that never will be there again for Guilliman has unfortunately seen too much and saw too many hardships to ever experience such a thing without guilt.

Then he stumbled upon one word. Euten... At that moment Guilliman realized what he missed all along. Quickly closing the book in a swift but gentle manner, Guilliman moves past everyone at such a pace that hardly anyone could notice at all. Right now, Guilliman has only one intention in mind.

His mother, he must try to retrace it.

Moving past his serfs on the way and even some of his subordinates who are merely on their way. He quickly navigates his path through the fortress as if this place's structure has already been imprinted on his mind long ago. Maneuvering in the fastest way he could, he soon finds himself approaching what is essentially considered as...

The Forbidden Sphere.

Guilliman doesn't even know why it is that way. He has been living in this place as far as he could remember but for all reason, he doesn't remember why this place was like this in particular. He doesn't even know who declared it that way. Was it him? Was it Calgar? Was it... No... He must push onward. Questions like these must be kept in mind instead of keeping muttering out loud.

The whole place was dead silent. There were usually the sounds of serfs making their way around or Astartes patrolling the area but not here. So forbidden that no one is allowed to be here at all and only Guilliman is here to make his way.

Then... he stood in front of a particular room. For some reason, he felt like he is about to enter something insurmountable even to him. He could have made a suicide mission into Nurgle's Garden or tried to fight Fulgrim 1-on-1 or even fought Perturabo if he has a personal death wish but... None of the aforementioned exponents to each other could possibly compare to this depth that Guilliman felt like being sunk into.

Forbidden was understating and Guilliman felt like he must fulfill it.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Ultramarines standing guard suddenly felt a tremble inside their bodies as if something horrible has happened but they couldn't tell what it is. All they know is that shame was the least of concern.

Not even half an hour later, all of the Ultramarines in the fortress's vicinity were then instantly called into his office as the top priority. No excuse is made unless it is impacting the general performance of Maccrage. Among all of them are Cato Sicarius and Marneus Calgar. Both of them seem surprised by this general turn of development because Guilliman is pissed and furious. The only time he was like this that they know is at the battle of Caith when he was hurt by the betrayal of Lorgar.

Guilliman slammed a piece of barely legible paper that has weathered so much decay of time that it is a surprise it hasn't collapsed into dust already by the Primarch of XIIIrd himself. Written in a dead language that has long subsided by Gothic Lexicon. Yet without understanding what was written, they knew that it must be so important that a stern and collected Primarch would act so rashly like this.

"Tell me... Where is my mother's grave?" Guilliman said with a furious undertone.

All of them stood stumped by that question. Despite knowing that the mother of the Primarch is very important just from that association alone, that is the furthest extent of knowledge they have about her. Everything else is just null and void for there exists no more record of it at all.

Their silence was their answer.

Guilliman slammed the Codex Astartes on his desk, nearly cracking the thing apart considering it was made by Rogal Dorn and its durability literally exceeds the fortress that it is housed in.

"Every banal and obvious stratagem in my codex has been immaculately preserved and followed without error or revision. But you didn't think keeping vigil over my mother's grave mattered. 10,000 years, the woman who raised and guided me has laid forgotten, while you kept minute records of Armor Polishing Rituals! I left Ultramar in your care, and what have you kept? Nothing! You preserved what was meant to be lost, and what was meant to be kept has been tossed into a mass grave of amnesia!" Guilliman criticized all of the Ultramarines in the room with such fury that they felt like the Emperor's Mercy would have been a preferable alternative to see their mistake laid upon them.

The Guilliman ceased his barrages of denunciation before he just sat on his chair trying to hold back the endless tides of emotion that overwhelm him. Now that he remembers why he even set those areas around it as Forbidden Sphere. Even mentioning what happened to his mother is far more agonizing than that filthy Primarch-killing blight that was injected into him during the confrontation with Mortarion.

**ultrasad**

**ultradepression**

**ultra-fucking-crying**

---

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Eternal Servitude

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---

Underhive, Vespera, Twilight

Alphric woke up once more and felt still tired and stunned by the event before. It seems that the emotional fume that they ran on has also exhausted itself during their escape. As he pulls himself up, Mika and Kang took notice and follow suit too. It seems that ever since that Scrap Knight's destruction, they have also set themselves a massive deterrence for any Ganger that dares to cross their path against them. So much that even at their most vulnerable, none would dare to approach.

"So... what do we do next? All of these Lights and none of the way we could use them now". Kang said as he activates his holo-watch once more as it displays statistics in all assorted manners.

"Best we could do now is that we scout the way forward before making any decision". Alphric said as he channels the Light into the train to fuel it once more. At least he could do this at leisure now that none of the immediate threats would dare to harm them.

The train screeches before moving into motion once more. On a beaten track, they are determined to find their redemption.

Or another obstacle on their way again.

The train halted itself once more as they were confronted with a ravine as the track broke down as it only leads itself into the gaping abyss below. They have already stopped themselves long before getting anywhere close but this is definitely not something to easily overcome even with their power right now.

"1,000,000 Lights... That was the estimated cost that it would take to rebuild the bridge that crosses this ravine". Alphric said as he approaches closer and used his holo-watch scan on the broken bridge.

Kang looks at it for a while feeling something off about it. His instinct as a Ganger enabled his survival this long is telling him there's more to it than what meets the eyes. Moving closer to the abyss, he noticed a crucial detail amongst the ruins.

Acrid black stain... A sign of explosive detonation. This isn't a mere case of decay... It's direct sabotage.

"Alphric! Check the train for any possible sign of sabotage!" Kang yelled back at him as he felt the closing danger upon the team.

Heeding his close friend's words, Alphric quickly approaches the train that they rely on and examines it. With a mere placing of his hand on it, the entire train's structural integrity is now consolidated into knowledge. He quickly processes through all of them with blazing speed before letting out a sigh... of relief.

"No sabotage on the train, no anomaly detected. If there was a sabotage then it must have been a separated case from this one". Alphric said as he let go of the train from his touch.

Things are getting complicated. And as Alphric and Kang investigate the situation, Mika was left to her lonesome self for she has no idea of what to do. Being left out alone actually felt more hurtful that how she expected since these are those who are the closest to her that she is talking about.

Then... she heard something. It was faint but her heart is screaming out in anguish much to her expectation. It was... a cry for help. And just like that, she immediately departs and leaves behind the two of them on their own. It didn't take long before Kang and Alphric noticed and quickly followed her because she may lead them to a new solution.

Gunfires, explosions, clashes, and yelling. All formed into a cacophony of madness that one shouldn't try to distinguish which is which. And Mika is tracing her path toward it as fast as she could with Kang and Alphric following fast behind.

The Underhive can sometimes be so opened that it felt like a different world in its entirety but at the same time can be so claustrophobic that it felt like being compacted into platings in manufactorums. And the transition in between can be so seamless that one may not realize it already.

Then... Mika finally found it. The battle that this madness originated from. And the one spark difference here is that none of the human combatants are Gangers but they are the PDFs of the Lower Hive. She has no idea of what they are doing here but it was clear that she must intervene. They are on the losing side as far as she could tell and they have already accepted that there's no reinforcement that comes to save them.

And their opponents are what looks like a fusion of metal and flesh, of machinery and humanity in the most hideous possible way she could imagine. With no more thoughts or revisions, she just jump into the fray regardless of whether or not she should have done that. For her heart has already overridden her mind in this very decision.

With their Emotion Level reset since before, she is only fighting at best of what a normal baseline could be. But what she brought isn't strength but her presence. The PDF soldiers upon seeing her thought that they are being rescued and that Mika is the vanguard of the reinforcement. Since her clothing is about in the same design as theirs, they just sort of accepted her without questioning at all.

Suddenly, what was a rout suddenly turned into a fierce counterattack. The soldiers all in unison quickly drive back against the force of the mechanical abominations that were systematically routing them before. Mika brought very little additional strength with her armaments but she has brought the exact thing this very squad of PDFs needed. Hope.

But much like how reality settles in, hope in itself has little merit but to morale itself. The cruel truth is that they were horrifically outnumbered and Mika is simply not enough. As more of the PDFs start dying or very approaching it, the hope that pushed them on also starts to falter. Mika only holding that bitter optimism of her so that things won't immediately collapse.

Defeat would have been what followed but it was fortunate that Kang and Alphric managed to find her in time and joined the fray. Kang however seems to be taken aback by it for a little while before keeping his focus once more.

"Servitors..." Kang muttered beneath his breath as that harsh lesson reflects once more.

One of the Servitors aimed at him before only to get distracted by Alphric's Autogun firing upon it. Kang took advantage of that and quickly took hold of its body and forcefully aimed its gun at the surrounding Servitors. The held Servitor in its disruption just keeps firing its Ripper Gun (read: auto shotgun) without caring about what it is actually aiming at. With his surprisingly overwhelming strength, he forcefully lifted Servitor and just point their aims in the direction he wanted.

The Ripper Gun with its own empowered buckshot completely shred through other Servitors, sometimes even blowing them into chunks with little resistance. Other Servitors quickly took notice and proceed to fire at him. Kang uses the Servitor's body as his shield, and the opposing fires eventually rip the Servitor that he is holding apart but not without Kang taking the Ripper Gun for himself.

The Ripper Gun or much like how the PDFs referred to them as Judge's Autohammer. In general Imperium, Ripper Guns are used by Ogryn with a hard-capped firing rate to prevent unnecessary wastage due to their lack of discipline trigger. This weapon fires so many bullets at once that it was practically a shotgun for its purpose. Made to be robust and durable so that it may be used as a club just in case the Ogryn forgot how to reload them.

But in Twilight, it was referred to as something else entirely. The design purpose of the Ripper Gun is then copied by the manufactorums of Vespera and then repurposed into many different designs across Hive Sectors but one general purpose is the same. An effective crowd-control weapon that a single person could wield. Thus came the Judge's Autohammer for its preferred usage among the Arbites.

With the size of a Heavy Stubber, its top shell-ejection system and along with its semi to full-auto firing mechanism. To say that it replaces the Heavy Stubber as a personnel weapon is probably taken as a fact of life all around.

This automatic shotgun fires standard 12 Imperial Gauge buckshot with an ammo box containing 20 of them. It could take in many other types of shotgun shells and still function properly. Such as Amputator, Cryptclearer, Executioner, Flechette, and various many others... but standard buckshot is the general purpose of this gun. Some even said this gun will clear out the entire room before it could expend half of the box's ammunition.

20 shots. More than enough to kill anything alive that isn't a tank or equivalent.

Taking the Judge's Autohammer for himself, he quickly unleashes a hail of unrelenting buckshot upon the remaining Servitors that are still in combat condition. The remaining PDF soldiers join in the fight to give their only saviors what they have left because otherwise is a horrible fate that they wish not to be a part of. In swift motions, they managed to dispose of the rest of them. By Kang's counting, he killed roughly 35 of them and the number of PDFs that still survive doesn't count beyond his fingers.

A crisis averted and the rest of the PDFs just instinctually gave out from the sheer stress and pressure that they felt. Some collapsed on their knees, some just dropped their weapons on the spot, and some are wishing that they died already. Most of them look worse for wear and Alphric could tell that they used to be better than now. Even their gears most likely have been imported from Lower Hive and they haven't restocked for a long time.

"So... tell me what is going on here?". Alphric said as he tries to extract information from those who are still capable of conversation.

"We were part of an Inquisitor's retinue but we were separated when a group of them attacked us. A lot of things happened before we got cornered here until you three arrives. Strange that I don't think I recognize any of you but thank you for saving our lives". One of the PDFs said before he tries to regroup again.

"Huh... So that's why they are here. Inquisitorial works can take you anywhere, I see". Alphric said as he looks around.

As he looks around for a bit, he noticed that some PDF soldiers were left abandoned with their weapons were taken away. These people are practically crippled or too grievously injured that they will perish soon without proper medical treatment which is never. Mika is trying to tend to a particularly frail and old man who is bleeding all over. Although she has basically stopped it, the hemorrhagic shock sustained from severe blood loss means he is going to die in minutes at best.

Worse, she tried to treat those who were abandoned before him but their trauma and injury has become too much to even handle by her alone. The anesthetic that she used can only give them a painless death at best and this old man is her last desperate attempt to save people. She has seen too many deaths and commits many of them no less, and yet she wishes to alleviate them of ailments instead of accepting her denial.

"Guess that this is the only care that I shall have. Some folks only receive love when they were gone, I guess". The old soldier said with a wry smile before closing his eyes permanently.

"No! NO! NOOO!" Mika yelled in denial as she tries to sustain him only to be proven as a failure yet again.

Alphric sees this sight too many times and it has never gotten easier.

The old soldier let out his last breath before dying in her embrace as his body collapsed into Lights. Those she treated also met their timely demise as they too collapsed into that luminal essence. As all of them flow into her, she cries once more wondering why she couldn't even keep up what she was supposed to do at all.

"The galaxy has a cruel humor. Understandable but too pragmatic in performance". Kang said as he slots the Autohammer that is now rightfully his in his backpack to replace the Combat Shotgun that he broke before.

Alphric sees this again and wonders why she keeps doing this. It never has been easier with each time and with each attempt again only wrought more anguish upon. This reminds him way too much of those times back as a merchant in the Middle Hive. Seeing the deaths of close colleagues was never easy and he prays that it never will be. For that is when he truly lost sight of himself in this mad reality.

He knelt down to her as he tries to look her in the eyes. He did this many times already but he would rather be glad that he did so because the lifeline between people can be very thin. And in Mika's case, her solidarity lies solely upon him. If Kang heard this, he would be rather hurt but understood nonetheless.

"Mika... Are you alright?" Alphric said to her as he uses his finger to wipe the tear that slowly drip on her cheek.

"Yes... But I don't want to feel so much like this anymore. I wished to make a difference, each time whenever someone was hurt or someone is in pain. But seeing that same scene all over again makes me regret ever having so much compassion at all. What uses does it have when everyone only has nothing but hostility toward each other?" Mika said as her voice was tainted with raw emotions. Whatever was in her turbulent mind just spat out straight to his face.

They went through this together already. The first was when she killed someone with her truest intentions. This time, she failed to protect those she cared for.

"Let me tell you something as someone who didn't receive nor understand love until later in my life. Not everyone is capable of giving a part of themselves to others willingly. For some people who knew only of loss, they give compassion at every moment of their life so that no one will undergo the pain they went through. These people carry tremendous remorse that they will only bring to their grave and you are one of them. There is nothing wrong with giving people compassion but you must love yourself too because otherwise, it would be a miserable existence". Alphric said as he pats Mika's head as he tried to soothe her mind.

As she slowly holds her tear back, she lets out a genuine smile of happiness. Perhaps she just enjoy his company that much and it was the necessary change from the constant grim darkness that has been plaguing them since the beginning of this journey. Then she wiped her tears away before hugging Alphric tightly as if to never let him go away.

While the wholesome display is being shown, Kang hasn't disconnected his gaze from the remnants of the Combat Servitors that they fought which are now dissipating into Lights as it subsumes into him. Being the only one aware of the truth of Servitor manufacturing, he is seeing the bigger picture than what Alphric and Mika are seeing. The fact that there is something that is mass-producing Servitors to kill people scares him more than how he wishes to admit.

He could easily deal with people who obsess with power. But something or someone that is so callous that they consider life held no intrinsic value at all?

Kang knew something ruinous will happen if they don't nip that bud of disaster at once.

Barracks unlocked. A light within their watch flickered.

---

Battle Report

Group Physical Strength: Athletic Human
Spiritual Resolution Level: Residual Touch
Light: 255,122
Total Kills: 2,145
Nemesis Slain:
-Scrap Knight (100k Lights)