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...

9. Indomitable Spirit

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.

---

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

Chapter 8
Indomitable Spirit

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

---

Underhive, Vespera, Twilight.

Emotion Level: 2.03

So... What the Luminary learned is that each subsequent Emotion Level becomes increasingly harder to increase meaningfully. It is not linear in the way they envisioned but is exponentially more costly to raise with each level. The evidence is that they have plowed through thousands of combat Servitors while the Inquisitorial Retinue half can only nervously follow them now that they only have small arms for self-defense.

Guess that it must have been such a horrible experience back then to gain so much tension and emotions in a short time span when they fought the Scrap Knight. Now that they finally looked back in retrospect.

"We're approaching the conflict area in ETA 30 seconds! Prepare for combat!" Mika said as she picked up the military terms from the grizzled old man as she tried to be professional. The actual PDFs of the Inquisitorial Retinue however only find it as mundane as breathing but they guessed that a head-up is nice no matter what.

Stray bullets were seen thus confirming the Luminaries' suspicion. The fact that the whole other half of this retinue hasn't been wiped out by the Combat Servitors is already a miracle. They can only guess that the Inquisitor is more competent than what everyone told or someone is back-breakingly carrying the entire retinue since separation.

Alphric checked the voxcaster and noticed that its light turned green confirming that they got close enough to connect without a need for the signal amplifier. Without hesitation, Alphric picked up the line and tried to communicate with the other ends.

"Stay put! We're coming for your help!" Alphric yelled at the voxcaster before only the static of the other side disconnected.

Sounds of firefight reverberate in the deep dark and damp of Underhive, and what greeted them first is a group of Servitors with their cybernetic appendages sprouting from their backs. No visible weapons yet but that will be destined to change as they went deeper into the fight. Now with no hesitation along with emotions driving them forward, the Luminaries storm into the battle with unhindered force.

Fervid Emotions + Pulsating Beats + [Minor Psykic Links]

Alphric made his first move as his fist burrowed into one of the Combat Servitors that stand in front of him. He could have used his Heavy Autorifle instead to take them down from distance but it is proven that they have to put themselves on the line if they want to meaningfully raise their Emotion Level. Because of it, unless when the situation is dire or disadvantageous, the Luminaries would resort to melee combat for the majority of the time.

Once again devolved back into beating each other in close-quarter. Just what cynical hell that they got themselves caught in?

Violence + Metallic Crush + Overdrive + Momentum + [Minor Psykic Links]

While the Servitors' focus of attention is on Alphric, Kang jumped over him as he recklessly swung all of his might into his enemy's ranks and files. The unbridled strength contained within each of his blows wreaks havoc as parts and scraps flew away with each destructive strike as if he has explosives for fists. Movement unmatched, strength unequal, Kang was as close to the idea of an unstoppable juggernaut as they can envision and he may as well be considered as such by the entourage that follows them. He is an offensive powerhouse and he doesn't disappoint in the slightest.

Nostalgic Embrace + Cherished Memories + Display of Affections + Burning Heart + Ember of Hope + [Minor Psykic Links]

And follow up with more unexpected firepower is Mika, who is holding both of her scalpels in the reverse grip. Her Psykic power channels through turning those flimsy-looking blades into a lethal blaze that could cut through anything mechanical apart. Within her dance of fire, the swinging arc of her blazing edges carves apart with ferocious wrath. With every motion of her blade, trails of fire were left behind before dissipating into embers like the vital sign of the Combat Servitors meeting their ends at the edge of her flame.

The combat strength of the three of them together is like a storm, one that brings destruction everywhere it goes. Leaving behind only ruinations as proof of its warpath. Thousands of Servitors rush against them but like crops into a harvester, they ultimately ended up as pieces scatter behind the Luminaries as they in their unshaken belief march stalwartly against what's ahead.

Don't falter, that's what the Luminaries spoke to each other in their mental links. Even when ballistic flying against them, even if battle scars marring their bodies. All of these are nothing in comparison to when they fight against their footfall. Against their worst behaviors that would have spelled damnation had they allowed it to fester in their heart.

Emotion Level: 2.14

Alphric heard desperate human voices, that's what snap him out of combat trance as his body moved on its own instinct against his enemy adaptation. With swiftness and strength, he channeled that power again as his heartbeat fasten itself to a dangerous degree.

Fervid Emotions + Heart of Aspiration + [Minor Psykic Links]

Blood rushes through his veins like a floodgate unleashed. His leap that followed carved a crater where he stood as he run on top of the tide of steel that is going concurrent against him. Each footstep followed with a sickening crush caused by the strength of his stomp alone to propel forward. As Kang and Mika draw the attention of the mechanical swarm, Alphric moves atop them to reach the separated retinue for that is his prime objective, not destroying every individual Servitor here.

A stray beam of red rushed nearby. Not directly at him but considering what the majority of the retinue is armed with, to see a las-bolt fired here tells him that whoever is behind is not an average gunman. With that knowledge in mind, Alphric quickly hastens his pace as each second felt more precious now than ever.

Just as his observation, he noticed a soldier who looked more well-armed and stood out amongst the rabble he is fighting alongside. If it weren't for the same color palette he has like the PDFs, he would have been a sight for sore eyes. From his personal gears to the very weapon he is holding, he fits the bill of an Imperial Guardsman than this world's PDF soldier.

More the reasons why he must commit to action now.

A Combat Servitors managed to sneak into their ranks and nearly caught said Guardsman apart if it weren't for Alphric's timely intervention. Out of nowhere he seemingly came, he landed on top of said Servitor before he stomped said abomination into scraps. The said guardsman turned around to see him freaked out a little to see someone so close to him without being aware of it.

"Don't worry, reinforcement is coming," Alphric said as he turned around to examine the man he sought to find.

Vespera has many people thus so too are the many faces it has. But Alphric could tell that this man is an off-worlder for just how healthy he is in comparison to all the PDFs around. A lot of the Lower Hives people are somewhat pale in comparison to the upper levels because how the sun was such a foreign concept that is taken for granted. The posture, the armor, and the hardened look on his face are already telling that he is a veteran of many battles. He doesn't seem to look amused by Alphric's appearance and he is putting what Alphric said under scrutiny.

"Reinforcement? Tsk, you speak as if anyone would want to enter Underhive by volition" The guardsman said unamusedly as he scoffed at Alphric.

Then came a loud explosion in a distance away that caught the guardsman's attention. Then burst through the horde of Servitors are Kang and Mika as their power surged and unleashed. The guardsman questioned what he saw but the two are as real as they are and they quickly intercept the horde of Servitors that the other half of Inquisitorial Retinue is barely able to fight back against at great cost.

Also, the half that followed the Luminaries quickly joined combat as they too tried anything they could with their remaining armaments. They thought they would never exhaust all of their explosives but it seems that they were too optimistic in that part.

"The separated half... So you managed to reunite them here?" The guardsman spoke as if he has thought the half without his jurisdiction would meet their ends long ago.

Alphric recalled how they met the retinue, they were losing... badly... It was not without exaggeration that they may all die have they met them one encounter later. But considering how overwhelming their foes are just now, it was justifiable. But guess anything below success is intolerable no matter what when it comes to the Inquisitorial.

"Yeah, cut them so slack because these new foes that stood within our way are simply too numerous and powerful for a mere genestealer infestation. We are encroaching on something dangerous and we can't allow it to keep up like this or else". Alphric said as he had a hunch on the current nemesis that they may inevitably face.

The guardsman looked at Alphric for a while as he tried to discern any underlying treachery beneath. He didn't live long enough without having behavior that makes paranoia looks like peak mental performance. But try as he may, he couldn't tell anything at all so he could only hope that Alphric is being sincere with him.

Emotion Level: 2.19

A small and sudden spike of emotions, Alphric is already not like it at all since that threshold is linked between all of them. They were already desensitized to the horror that Combat Servitors presented and if it fazed them then...

Alphric gazed forward and saw his half of Inquisitorial Retinue running for their lives toward him. And further at their back is another Imperial Knight already locked in combat with the Luminaries. If it weren't for them being its current focus of attention, the retinue would be decimated without a moment to realize. The guardsman looked in horror as he realized the entirety of the retinue is not made for this kind of combat. With very little anti-tank weaponry left in tow, he would have just admitted defeat already if it weren't for Alphric rushes forward in reckless abandon.

Kang with his power maul already on its max settings struck at the Knight with all he has, each blow powerful enough to dent and smash into its armored platings but it is still not enough. The Knight trying to maneuver and stomp on him was immediately intervened by Mika's focused psykic flame as she swings her empowered scalpel. As it collided with the raised leg, the explosion that occurred propels its footing forward causing unbalance in its pose.

It staggers forward but quickly recovers its balance in nearly no time. The auspex in its eye detected Alphric and the guardsman and thus the autocannon turret on its shoulder quickly aimed at them and fired. The guardsman tried to hide but knew it was all in vain as 20mm autocannon rounds can easily destroy this flimsy barricade they set up.

Stagnant Blood + Scar of Sorrow + Fervid Emotions

Alphric quickly used himself as a cover to protect the guardsman from the hail of autocannon. As much as he expected, the self-made trench that the retinue made lasted for no seconds at all as everything that they spent their time propping up get torn to shred. Fortunately that all of them retreat instead of staying here trying to mount a futile defense.

Rounds of autocannon pelt against Alphric's back despite his Psykic Passive enabling him to withstand tremendous damage that would have otherwise chunked him into red mist. He is still feeling all of the force behind them even if they fade away as fast as they came to be. Kang took advantage of the distraction as he mount the Knight before bashing it at the temple disrupting its relentless barrage before shaking him off.

Releasing his held breath, Alphric let go of the guardsman that curled up into a fetal position. The guardsman's eyes were closed as he waited in anticipation of a death that Alphric prevented. But when he realized that he is still breathing, he opened his eyes to see Alphric and him still in one piece. He wanted to thank the Emperor that he is still alive despite what occurred but the serious look in Alphric's eyes are telling that he must go now.

Without further words to say, Alphric turned around and rushed toward the Imperial Knight that is in a quarrel with the two soldiers that are seemingly able to keep up with it. The guardsman recalled all of his previous battles and how he barely managed to scrounge a chance of survival. Normally common sense would dictate that he must retreat and leave these folks to deal with the Knight but... Something about them resonated deeply in a way that he is inexplicably unable to tell exactly why.

And that because of it, he felt he too must spur into action like them. Is it suicidal? Yes, but he felt that he won't live it down if he ran away.

"FIX BAYONET!" The guardsman's thought yelled loudly in his mind as it automatically filled in the officer's whistle where he and his platoon would charge toward danger.

Thus he charged toward the Knight with no thought of self-preservation. While holding his Lasgun as if he is holding a greatsword handle. Many thoughts would have crossed the audiences and observers but to him, he still has one trick left up his sleeve.

Back the Luminaries, the three of them individually deal considerable damage to the Knight but they are having trouble pinning it down to finish it off. It just keeps moving around in an agile fashion not thought to belong to such massive and clunky machinery. Visible damages scar it but its functionality is no lesser than before. It seems that it learned what happened to one of its kind that the Luminaries demolished and adapted accordingly.

Mika tried to flank it from the back as she lunged at it but it then suddenly sidestepped away from her and she completely missed it. Using her Automagnums doesn't work here since they will need seriously dedicated anti-tank weapons if they intend to fight it the traditional way and they have already seen just how horribly that worked. Kang and Alphric tried to approach it but the triangle lockdown formation just keep being broken no matter how they tried.

It suddenly detected something that is outside its usual adaptation. The Knight turned around and see the guardsman charging toward it while wielding the Lasgun in his hand like a sword. Without further notice, it turned toward him with its autocannon already aimed at him. Alphric noticed the change in its behavior and his instinct instantly take hold as he quickly came and stood in between its line of sight and the guardsman.

Stagnant Blood + Scar of Sorrow + Fervid Emotions

Autocannon turret unleashed again as Alphric put his guards up. At this close range, accuracy is as close to pinpoint. But because of that, Alphric could safely guard and protect said guardsman from stray attacks. The guardsman looked in disbelief to see a single man withstanding autocannon shells like they were training rounds. While the Knight's focus is on Alphric, Kang signaled Mika so that he can boost her up to reach that autocannon turret. Without a second glance of thought, she quickly ran toward him as Kang gets into stance and position. In one swift motion, Mika flew toward the Knight while holding her blazing scalpel like a sword.

The Knight detected Mika as it then spurn its Devastator Chainsword installed on its right arm trying to cut down its interloper. For all intentions and purposes, it is overkill. But when it comes to the Luminaries, nothing short of utter annihilation can be considered such.

Cherished Memories + Burning Heart + Nostalgic Embrace + Display of Affections + [Minor Psykic Links]

The scalpel collided with the oversized chainsword and an intense explosion followed after. Mika propelling back from the clashing recoil still hasn't yet given up her onslaught. With fiery power converging once more turning that short pitiful edge into a blazing blade, Mika made a downward slash as the power unleashed created a flaming shockwave still rushing at the Knight.

By its internal directive, the Knight put up its Ion Shield to deflect but the psykic power behind is still too tremendous that when it did block the devastating blow, the power it was forced to endure was too much that it became staggered afterward with its Ion Shield offline due to overstress. The Knight kneels on the ground as its system tries to recalibrate its setting from the internal damage caused.

Violence + Momentum + Chained Wrath + [Minor Psykic Links]

Kang took advantage of this moment as he then threw his power maul at the autocannon turret. Anything is faster than static opponents thus even in his contrastingly-stark sluggish moment compare to before, he is still bound to deal devastating damage. The power maul flew from his hand toward the turret on its shoulder as it obliterated its shoulder and the gun on it apart.

The Knight suddenly reactivated itself upon the autocannon's destruction as it lashes out wildly with its chainsword arm. It now truly realized the danger it was in and thus its desperation protocol was activated. Before it could hit anything though, someone unexpectedly stopped it.

Fervid Emotions + Heart of Aspiration + Scar of Sorrow + Stagnant Blood + [Minor Psykic Links]

Alphric stood in the chainsword's path as he used all his combined psykic might to hold this whirling chainsword blade back from cleaving everyone in one blow. The Imperial Knight tried to retract away but before it could make any single step, Mika has already made her intervention.

Cherished Memories + Burning Heart + Nostalgic Embrace + Display of Affections + [Minor Psykic Links]

Another scalpel took from her unlimited supply of surgery equipment. If only she had something larger but nothing withstood her psykic flame thus this disposable scalpel was the only thing that she could channel effectively. Transformed once more into the sword of inferno, Mika swung it right at the below-knee joint of the Knight as the heat discharged caused a raging stream of fire to flood the opposite direction she swung. But even when stopped at first, the sheer heat unleashed melts the metal structure of the Knight.

Either Adamantine wasn't as strong as people said to be or the Knight's armor plating wasn't made of adamantium at all and had to be repurposed with other materials. But it doesn't downplay just how ridiculously durable it was even in comparison to actual Knights. And as her self-made blazing sword slowly is cleaving a path through the Knight's knee.

Within a snap of a finger, Mika yelled loudly as she cleaved apart the lower leg of the Imperial Knight as blazing trails of fire still follow after her swinging arc. The Knight fell face first as the damage received is unrecoverable. Kang already noticed that it is about to commit its self-destruct protocol if they allow it to remain in one piece. Its area of destruction of a small nuclear fusion detonation might be small but that is more than enough to ruin someone's day or even the subsequent ones.

The guardsman that everyone's thought strayed away completely from their mind made his contribution as he toggles the configuration of his Lasgun. He yelled loudly one phrase.

LASCUTTER

Suddenly, the Lasgun on his hand unleashed its power in a way that was thought impossible. Releasing from its muzzle is a crimson ray whose range was limited but the might within is deceiving of its size. If anyone could make any comparison, it would be like a Lascannon mid-firing its lance of light but much more focused than its true counterpart.

With one overhead blow, the beam cleft through the torso of the Knight as it melts and tears apart any internal systems and construct. For intention and purpose, the Knight's hull was bisected in half. Kang gritted his teeth as he dip his hand through the molten metal as his psykic-enhanced strength ripped out the fusion core before he heard a click in its molten system. Then, nothing else followed.

With that, the Luminaries let go of a sigh of relief but knowing full well that they have to evacuate, now. Not because of the damaged fusion reactor, that thing releases nothing but helium when damaged. The actual danger is the other Knights that will get to this area. Unless they maneuver carefully, it is all wiped out.

Twilight Lasgun, looks similar to a lot of other models that exist within Imperium and even comes with a conversion port to adjust for different kinds of Laspacks that exist in Imperium's circulation. Not only do they capable of firing in full-auto with no recoil, but they also came in focused semi-auto for sniping and most importantly, the Lascutter. Each las-bolt has the power of 12.7mm rounds. They could blow off limbs, and chunk concrete, have massive ammo reserves, and can easily be replenished without a dedicated supply chain.

Or what the Hierarchy called them... welding tools.

As a deal that a certain Arch-Magos of Mechanicus made with the Twilight's Noble Hierarchy as a way to improve the Guard's force without making drastic changes or modifications and that it could easily be spread to other Imperial Guards' regiments. The Hierarchy made this modification that can be easily mass-produced at only a slight increase in cost but significantly in strength and tactic that it enabled.

The Lascutter focused the entirety of a Lasgun's powerpack energy into one concentrated short-range beam that it could easily cut through metal and armor plating apart. Upon testing and comparison, the Lascutter has the power equivalent to a Lascannon shot. Much like what it said on the tint, using the Lascutter without having more of its internal parts dedicated to handling such power is begging for disaster to happen. If it didn't blow up then the Lascutter will last about 12-15 seconds before it exhausts the packs.

And ironically, it enabled more deranged tactics such as bayonet charging a tank because it is suddenly a valid tactic with this modification in tow. Perhaps the Hierarchy knew exactly what they were doing. But still, the Guards were more well-prepared to deal with more intimate threats and Guilliman made it an Emperor-damned promise to make it as widespread as he could.

Alphric looked at his minimap in the corner of his vision as he could tell the location of the entirety of combined Inquisitorial Retinue or what was left of them up till this point. He has to herd them from the danger approaching as he then carried the mentally exhausted guardsman over his shoulder like a potato sack. Kang and Mika followed as all their worries are shared with each other.

"Hey, tell me where is that Inquisitor that you supposed to serve!? Don't tell me that he perished with his idiocy already?!" Alphric yelled as he tried to gauge more information by politely asking the guardsman although he looks like he will drop dead soon even without any injury sustained.

"He's not... but where he is heading might as well be a death trap..." The guardsman spoke as he is already running out of patience for any mind game.

"Where!?" Kang yelled as the three are running toward where the Inquisitorial Retinue retreated toward.

"To what he suspected to be the origin of all these autonomous killing machines. An Abominable Intelligence he said and that he is already on his own and ordered any of us to guard the entrance. As you can guess, we didn't last too long before breaking orders." The guardsman said as the gaze in his eyes recalled their attempt at being valiant and being punished for it.

"Tell all of them to head toward that entrance, if we are being pursued by those Imperial Knights then we are better off in a place where it can't easily wreak havoc or else". Mika said to Alphric and the guardsman.

'By the way, what's your name?" Alphric spoke as he had a feeling that he may end up working alongside this particular individual for a while.

The guardsman was silent for a moment as he questions whether or not he should trust these strange individuals that he met only seconds ago. But... all foundation of trust has to start with a mutual belief. That's a lesson hard learned in warfare that many think otherwise because of how disposable individuals are. And definitely not because he has fallen into that footfall before.

"My name is Yang". The guardsman said before his tiredness finally took him out of questioning.

---

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

Highway to Hell

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

---

"Wake up! We're in trouble!" A certain grizzled voice woke the young man from his sleep.

Reinhardt suddenly stand awake as he could feel the truck is already fast-lane down at high speed. He finds it strange that there are actually threats that can pursue them at this speed. And if he wasn't wrong, they are most likely flooring it down the highway where general security is tight. Just what is it to warrant them to?

Ballistic collides with the armored truck's container making him jump in surprise and shock. From the origin he discerned, it was from the ceilings. But if that was the case then...

"Oh fuck..." Reinhardt thought to himself as he already perceived the possibility.

Even more sounds of ballistic collision at the cargo door. If it weren't for this truck's design to be ridiculously sturdy as the Guild Master's investment for any transport to Upper Hive. From what he was told, even the client paid a premium for the fastest route.

This armored truck wasn't a simple transport that many of the Guild's merchants use. This is more of a military armored personnel carrier with multiple seats for a combat squad repurposed for transport. It's the length of a single cargo container that is used for cross Hive Sector transport. It could withstand many punishments that even an actual armored carrier would get destroyed before this truck. As if it was made to even withstand any apocalypse with just how many failsafe were installed.

Toxic gas filter, its own air reserve, and thermos level of heat resistance. Can literally run with no wheel while causing infrastructure damage to the road it is on. An engine that may have been stolen from a voidship, and a windshield that seemingly laughs at even lasbolts. At first, Reinhardt felt this was like a blessing because nothing could virtually break through. But now in further retrospect, he realized why it is reinforced to such a degree like this.

He and his team are now prime targets for more infamous and dangerous syndicates because of what they carried. And perhaps of more insidious force hidden behind that is puppeteering things beyond their vision.

That doesn't matter right now, he just needs to succeed in this delivery because based on the expression he read from the Guild Master's face before his departure, it looks like he hinged a lot on this very trip. Just that prospect tells him that failure is not an option.

And that something doesn't seem to be what it looks at first glance.

He stepped out of the container room and it seems that the truck is still being onslaught by something. The Ganger-looking man who is behind the wheel is driving like his life is on the literal line as Reinhardt saw a flyer flying over them just now.

"What in the Throne is that?!" Reinhard exclaimed although he already knew what it is. It's just that the audacity of the situation dumbfounds him at the first sight.

"Valkyrie flyers. They are a staple of aerial support of Imperial Guards. They are mostly for transport but the weapons mounted on them are no laughing matter. Either we are fighting against those kinds of syndicates that had direct ties to the Imperial Guards just now or those filthy corrupted bureaucrats caught wind of something good or unusual about us." The old man in color-faded armor spoke to Reinhardt as he gives pointers about what they just encounter.

The flyer returned once more and fired a stream of rapid-firing lasbolts at them. The Ganger-looking man swerves the truck narrowly away from being fed by a barrage of concentrated beams.

"Emperor damn it, even that is going to do some damage. Just where are those inspectors and why are they allowing a military vehicle to just go rogue like this?!" Leonhardt, the lion-maned Ganger said as he truly is going to feel infuriated very soon.

Everyone then turned toward the tanned agri-world girl as if they are expecting an answer from her. And obviously what came next is a clueless admittance that she doesn't know anything at all. But using the wisdom in her mind after listening to everyone's small talk and discussion, she decided to pull a conspiracy theory. Everything has to start somewhere no matter how shaky it might be.

"You know, I wonder why someone decided to have us as transport medium instead of having their own personnels to do the job? They have the finance to open the shortest path for us, even the routes where safety and speed are paid in premium that even Middle Hivers would struggle for passage. If they have such capability then they would clearly not need us at all". Sophia, the scribe that is the aforementioned tanned girl who had only recently joined their position spoke as she mustered every thought and try to chain them together into something coherent.

"Probably to deliver some respective Noble House's technology to the upper one. Even if they fucking bicker with each other all the time, all of them are obviously still relying on each other despite that horrid behavior amongst them. I mean one of the Lower Hive Houses has their mastery over long-term sustainable agriculture and all of the Upper Hierarchy are willing to suck up for that." Leonhardt said as he always pick the simplest answer to all questions. A true practitioner of Occam's Razor that they are seeing.

"Unfortunately, that even makes it more impossible if that is the case. Reinhardt actually said that throughout the entirety of his working experience, he has never come across a single request from Noble Houses making it clear that they don't trust strangers or people outside of their respective circles no matter the capability to deal with their technology. This extends and magnifies the higher we go. Even Lower Hierarchy doesn't trust people with their technology lightly, can we even imagine what the Middle would be like?" Sophia Formido said as she seems to thread a chain of logic that seems perfectly valid together.

"Too low sample, how does a single person speak for the entirety of the whole?" Leonhardt speaks to disagree as he is still driving the armored truck from being lambasted with thousands of lasbolts.

"Actually, she is right? I actually even asked the Guild Master a while before about this. And throughout the entirety of the Guild's history and his connections. No one actually got hired by the Middle Noble Houses at all. Like we are talking about a man whose influence and seemingly endless plans and backdrops telling us straight to the face that the Noble Houses don't trust anyone outside without just blackmailings." Reinhardt actually supports what Sophia said as he also tries to recall further memory.

"Then guess what, it might be just for shit and giggles, you can easily attribute everything for malice in Twilight and it would be a valid answer. They probably just see us as a target practice for their new stolen military hardware". Leonhardt said as he is not vindicated away from his belief.

"You kinda underestimate how thorough the Imperial Guards is with their equipment. Customs and traditions are different throughout Imperium but if Twilight was this bad then the entire Middle Hive is a smoldering wreckage, not a metropolis that is barely functioning despite the law that enabled freedom of murder." Stannum Carl or just Stan, the old man in faded carapace armor is crossing his arm with a squinted look on his face. He was a retired Imperial Guardsman who actually got chewed out of it and earned his retirement but it seems that he still heads on into danger despite that he has already earned it.

"So, somebody actually bribed through all the officials and pull their strings to have that flyer attacking us? That's what you ascertain?" Leonhardt said as he knew the length people can go is longer than the entire equator of this planet. It's just that he wants some confirmation.

"I've seen people falsely accuse one another over the pace of breathing or how they look. But the monetary and influence required to manipulate this much is so massive that it looped back to become glaring". Stan said as the atmosphere become stiff as everyone's thoughts collided with one another.

Sophia stood up and decided to give pointer guides to Leonhardt so that they can figure out how to make the flyer fuck off from trying to kill them. Then they noticed the highway signs that are about exactly the same height as the flyer's flying height. Thus a plan brewed while Reinhardt thinks further about what would exactly the Noble Houses would actually want to steal from them, and the exact nature of what they are delivering.

Harry, the Guild Master forbade all attempts of revealing the detail of what actually contained in them. And so far, the wooden crate the size slightly larger than his height has exhibited no unusual behavior up until this point. It was so mundane that he actually questioned if he is just self-exaggerating the severity of the situation but the madness that followed him for the content inside is also conflicting with the nature of what he is delivering is also making things worse than first believed.

To have so little control over what he knows let alone what he doesn't know, makes him feel like he is presenting himself as a sacrifice to appease some calamity or something.

In an attempt to calm himself from having another brain aneurysm, he decided to recall back for some old cherished memories for relief if there was any meaningful amount of them. Then a moment of epiphany came when one of them suddenly revealed to him a possible solution to this debacle.

"Sun and Moon..." Reinhardt muttered as the old guardsman and the blonde girl turned toward him upon hearing it. One with curiosity and one with a shocking realization. The curiosity belongs to the old man while the shock belongs to the girl with golden hair.

"Can you tell me what is it? It appears that I'm the one out of the loop here". The old man said calmly while Dorothy, the golden hair girl starts to feel uneasy about where the conversation is heading.

"It was a record of a theatrical play called the Sun and Moon. The performance quality exceeds all of the Middle Hive's entertainment studios and it was probably the closest thing to divine that I have ever seen. Apparently, it was something that was misplaced from an Upper Hive's archival museum that found its way into a Middle Hive's cinema. When enough people talk about it after they leave and somewhat created an urban legend about it, the Upper Arbites personally came and investigated it and acquired said record back. That was when I was a teenager and probably the only few lights I have seen during the miserable existence that I called my own". Reinhardt said as he can't help but crack a smile recalling the beautiful movements and performance that he had seen then.

"If that is the case then... Perhaps, the content of the crate is actually something thought to be lost in Upper Hive but found here?" Stan said as he follows the line of thought that Reinhardt made.

"That is the only solution that made the most sense right now, it would be far too conspicuous if a Noble House sent their serfs to do this task. It would certainly tell the severity because of how a simple record warranted the Upper Arbites of all things to investigate. And that so much is being sent to us because of the content that we deliver. We are literally carrying a 'Pandora's box' and if it is open, all hell breaks loose".

Reinhardt doesn't even understand the origin of that phrase, people just spoke it as a euphemism for 'actions that have disastrous consequences if taken' for Emperor knows how long.

Dorothy calmed herself down as she swallowed her own fear while holding her pet dog tightly to hide the fact that she lost her composure just now. She was just glad that not even the two of them managed to tell that moment of weakness and she intend to stay that way as long as she could.

Suddenly, a loud crash was heard. Not the armored truck but the flyer that they managed to deceive into hitting a highway sign after so much swerving and turning through that barrage of lasbolts. The three of them could hear Leonhardt and Sophia celebrating upon succeeding in that feat. And as when they thought they are done with it, Dorothy felt a sudden stiffness in her body indicating that her instinct is reacting. Even her pet dog barked loudly as it too felt revolted by something beyond everyone else's perception.

"Leon! Swerve!" Dorothy yelled at Leon as he by instinctual reaction made a hard turn with the steering wheel.

Nearly struck them is an anti-tank missile fired from that flyer. Everyone barely managed to recompose themselves after such a narrow encounter with death that none of them could break a laugh at just how deadly the situation was. To be forcefully reminded that they are merely one mistake away from total annihilation.

"Hellstrike Missiles, I've seen them in action. Both of being saved and nearly killed by them. They even make Imperial Knights eat shit if they were ever struck by one of them. And the destruction they can cause is no laughing matter." Stan said as although he is shaken, he still stands unfazed against such lethality despite it being up close just now.

"So they no longer care about collateral then. How the hell do we fight back against them now that they won't fall for that same trick twice?" Reinhardt spoke as he doubt his Stub Rifle will do any meaningful damage to a literal armored fighter that is chasing them.

"Take my flashlight then, it's beneath my seat. You'll find it more useful than I did". Stan said as he stood up from his seat.

"What the fuck am I supposed to do with a flashlight!? Flash at them until they go blind?!" Reinhardt said as he was so stressed out that he didn't even input that what Stan said is meant to be a joke. But he still decided to open it anyway because he doesn't have any better choice here.

Beneath Stan's personal seat is a storage containing his personal belongings, from survival tools of old now looked like they were supposed to be decommissioned long ago yet work as perfectly as intended. The centerpiece within that storage is what caught his eye and when he finally took it out, shown to be a gun to everyone. Not just an average firearm that fires ballistic. But in fact...

A Long-Las.

Reinhardt shuddered at first to lay his hands upon this weapon. He has seen its shorter variations in action before. The Imperial Guardsmen armed with Lasrifles decimated their foes with one singular shot each. Each lasbolt alone chunks its victim and blows limbs apart. If that was the standard Lasgun's firepower then... just what is this thing capable of?

The Long-las is a sniper equivalence of the Lasgun, each shot so high-powered and focus that it is often seen its victim be butchered and torn apart just from the sheer amount of heat delivered at once. On testing with other ballistic weapons, its closest comparison was an anti-armor 40mm grenade. The Twilight variants produced in Vespera were significantly more durable and have very little maintenance and parts replacement is required for continuous functioning. The production cost increase is minor in comparison to other Long-las models that exist in Imperium.

"What the fuck did he fight to call this thing a flashlight!?" Reinhardt thought in panic as he sees Stan smiles deviously as if he is mocking Reinhardt for being too naive to understand the greater danger that the Imperium fought on daily basis.

"Doesn't matter right now, I need to take that flyer down and this might be our only chance," Reinhardt said as he quickly return to the cargo bay with the intention of shooting back through the rear cargo door.

"Let me assist you with this too. I've known my fair share with Imperial Arsenals more than you do and it's better that I take the fall than you". Stan said as he took something in his personal storage with him.

By the way, no one actually remarked about how they are driving through the dead of night on a highway that is barely lit with highway lights. But since they are taking their own routine to drive, they played a game of roulette to determine the schedule. The obvious loser of the game was Leonhardt who has to take the night shift. However, the way things transpired means there is little meaning to their schedule anymore.

"Wait until the Multi-Las barrage dies down before you open. That gun tends to overheat when held down fire for long enough. When that happens, we only have but a few moments to take it down." Stan said as he stood position in looking toward Reinhardt whose one hand was already placed on the handle.

They could feel the truck swerving madly, deaccelerate before throttling in its attempt to avoid incoming fire. Neither of them takes that Leonhardt is such a suave and skillful driver like that but they can't help but appreciate it right now

The barrage ceases for a moment before both of them push open the door to see the flyer behind them. It's hard to see when it's only the veil of night above them and they have to discern a shadow within it. But Stan whose experience came into use as he quickly tell where their target was. To see the pitch-black within the constellation in such a short moment, it's possible to see why Stan stood out even amongst veterans.

"45 degrees upward, 1 o'clock. Now!" Stan yelled his orders to Reinhardt who despite barely understanding the terminology quickly get the position he is trying.

The Long-las crackles in crimson energy as visceral power unimaginable to mortal imagination courses through. Reinhardt will never understand the technology or mechanism behind it, Stan probably can but the shot took priority.

A beam of red soars through the atmosphere in a mortal instant. As if before anyone's recognition could register, the beam struck the Multi-las and both Reinhardt and Stan could see an explosion occurring right after the contact. The Long-las in his hand still emits heat and steam upon firing but it is clear that it is still functioning.

They only managed to damage the Multi-las but the flyer is still there and they definitely still have their other weapons on board. But before they could try to get another shot in, Stan noticed one of the wing armaments on that flyer is activating. The startup is distinct to him enough that he could tell in mere moments.

"Close the gate, now!" Stan yelled as he reach for the rear cargo handle and pull it back with all the might he had.

Reinhardt just immediately reach for the handle by instinct upon hearing what Stan yelled. Absolute coordination is often demanded and people who worked in this line of jobs often commit their actions to an order without processing what it actually means in their minds. It all became the basest instinct to them and often time people would wonder if they can even reverse this transformation.

The two slammed the gate shut in mere seconds despite the weight of them before Stan took hold of Reinhardt by the waist and rushed back, Explosions suddenly heard and collide right at the back as it stood there withstanding all that is bashing upon it. Reinhardt doesn't know what exactly is causing it but based on Stan's reaction, it must have been a different kind of danger.

"Just how durable is this goddamn truck?! It literally soaks up military-grade explosives like nothing!" Reinhardt can't help but wonder what has gone into this truck.

"I don't know but if the Guild Master is allowed to use the pre-transaction budget to create this transport vehicle then the price is exorbitant just so that it can withstand being barraged with explosives. Especially the Raptor Missile Pods which the flyer used on us before. They are used primarily for anti-personnel with its shrapnel." Stan said as he starts to question the nature of this delivery.

The missile barrage ceases but Stan can hear the flyer sounds approach. Then perhaps because of his previous experience or personal failure, something in his mind clicked together as he yelled at them.

"Get away from the driver's seat! They're aiming their side-view weapons at you!" Stan said as he was intimately aware of the weapons mounted on that flyer.

One miniature but no less deadly explosion collided with the passenger door which startled Sophia away. However, the door still stood despite what Stan feared, and not only that, the side window immediately raised its protection plate to prevent further damage. It seems that Stan's fear was ultimately unfounded but he has a very valid ground to act so.

Heavy Bolters. They are the standard Imperial heavy weapon emplacement that is commonly seen in any heavy weapon team. Whether on tripods, pintle-mount, or anything that could withstand its recoil, they are reliable weapons for just the sheer potential for damage and destruction that they are capable of. Unlike traditional bolt weapons, however, they don't have a firing pin and their belt-fed mechanism is motor-operated rather than exhaust gas-cyclic operation.

Using electrical pulses applied in the firing chamber enables the gun's unreal firing rate that is unseen in other weapons of the same type. The exhaust gas of fired bolter rounds is used to generate the power necessary to keep this weapon active thus only the impulse of the fired first round and the pulling of the charging handle are required.

Normally a single bolter round would be more than enough to decimate any light-to-medium armored vehicles with one decisive shot. But this truck's hull is soaking an entire barrage of them like nothing. Combined with its defensive measure functionality, it stood unfazed despite the anti-armor that goes in with each individual bolter round. It's like they are driving an impenetrable archeotech except that they knew it is made only recently for them. If anything, they probably will end up fulfilling this journey before they completely discover its entire functionalities.

Stan realized that the flyer's side gunner is still focused on the truck's cab thus he quickly go back to the rear container and pushed the door open again. Needless to say that the flyer noticed it and tried to snipe that particular place to prevent them from trying to snipe them back with the Long-las. Reinhardt meanwhile opens the side door silently while the flyer's side gunner is preoccupied with the armored truck's rear door. Holding his breath to focus, Reinhardt aimed down the scope as crimson power converges on the barrel of the sniper.

The side gunner realized the bait he has taken as he turned back to the truck's cab but he has too little time left to regret as Reinhardt pull the trigger once more. As a crimson ray rushed through from his barrel to his enemy's head in the blink of an eye, both the side gunner and the Heavy Bolter he has evaporated in a near instant.

The pilot realized what struck them thus they decided to fire everything they have, including the last Hellstrike Missile armed into the wing. But before any of that intentions could be fulfilled, Reinhardt already know where the flyer is and the fact that it was the right Hellstrike that was fired leaving the left one behind. And that missile shall be the flyer's destruction as unerring marksmanship displayed its true showcase.

Reinhardt once headshot someone from a kilometer meter away with his shoddy Stub Rifle. This flyer here is nothing but a point-blank target practice for him now that its position is compromised either way.

Another ray of crimson, followed by an explosion as it tears apart that flyer. Not because of his Long-las but the Hellstrike Missile whose explosive was triggered early by the sheer heat required for detonation. One that the Long-las easily fulfilled. As the wreckage of that flyer descends into the ground as a burning wreckage, Reinhardt and his crew continue to drive their way as the truck despite its damaged-looking appearance still comes out as functional as it can be.

Reinhardt closes the side door as he releases his held breath. He felt like his heart stopped beating for a while already as he lays the still-hot Long-las beside him. Leonhardt has already felt that his heart also left his body and that it was his mind and instinct actually propping him up. He said he wished to be courageous but actually doing it and keeping this truck running in the right direction is already a commendable feat on its own.

Stan sat down, with contemplation and worries that this might just only be the starting of something that will spiral beyond their capability. That all of their strength combined won't be enough to resolve the problem at hand. Sophia returns to her front seating beside Leonhardt as she stares through the window now that the defensive plate has been lowered. Thoughts whirl about in her mind as disassociated facts and knowledge are disparate like foam on the stormy sea.

Dorothy meanwhile stares at Reinhardt as if she sees something in him that others most likely also see too. But what it precisely is, it won't ever be spoken from her mouth soon.

---

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

Heart of Fire

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

---

Emotion Level: 2.23

"Collapse the tunnel, now!" Alphric said as Kang rigged his explosive charges at the ceilings and feet of the entrance. All of the remaining Inquisitorial Retinue have already moved in and the Knights outside are still unrelentingly hunting for them. It was only a matter of time before their location is compromised.

With a press of a button on the remote detonator, the chained explosions destroyed the tunnel entrance, sealing the way between them. Mika looks in worry because there is nowhere but forward and the Retinue is already being pushed to the brink with very few capable of pushing any further. If any of them decided to stay here, she won't blame them. Inadequate equipment and an already beaten spirit would do anyone in regardless.

"So, Yang... You said that this is the tunnel that will lead us directly into the mastermind. And that your superior has already gone his way in, by himself..." Kang said as he could harshly believe how foolhardy someone can be even if Twilight has already given ample examples.

"Yeah... Nobody has the authority to rein him in and he barely listens to my advice by the virtue of being the most veteran around here. And despite my previous protest, he still did it thinking that it will be resolved quickly or that he will mysteriously bypass the defense mechanism". Yang said as he barely stood up despite his weariness.

The four of them move down the dark tunnel that is only lit by Yang's flashlight, the actual tool, not his gun. The dwindling retinue personnels shudder at the prospect of fighting anymore when they have run dry all of their heavy weaponry already. The Lasgun in Yang's arm has some ridiculous ammo reserve that it would see everyone else exhausted before it would.

"Don't worry... We will take things up from here" Mika said with reassurance knowing that they have to succeed in this incursion or else.

The Luminaries' golden aura can be hazily seen but most would only take it in as a trick of the mind. Yang wished he could care but his tour of duty has shown things even weirder than people that happen to have lights around them.

They moved down the tunnel for long enough that they no longer see the retinue that stayed behind them anymore. When that confirmation is complete, their temporary moment of peace is revoked as another group of combat Servitors rushes toward them. Unfortunately for them, they don't even worth the effort of killing anymore since their emotions have risen beyond their fear. Thus even trying to fight at a disadvantage to gauge more emotions ended up being more than negligible at best.

If they tried to Imperial Knights to gain more Emotion Level, they would actually waste too much of their time on meaningless endeavor and their true target of focus will be lost. So they decided that they must finish off the mastermind while their spirit is still intact. They already knew the consequences of breaking their limit already, and while great strength awaits them, they are still not used to that transcendental level of power regardless.

With their ranged weapons out, the Psykic Passives still thankfully apply to them as all of them went gun blazing down toward the opposing horde of enemies. All of them in their state of trance unleash all their wrath as carnages and bloodshed blend together seamlessly in a shower of red and visceral yells of mechanical. Explosive powers behind each shotgun shell as if they were bolter rounds, an inferno lashes its tongue within each magnum round Mika fired, and a hail of anti-material rounds unleashed Alphric's Anti-material Heavy Stubber.

Yang tried to contribute something by firing toward the still encroaching horde. But in comparison to what his entourages are doing, the Lasgun despite its power seems pale in comparison. The fact that they are even allowing him to follow is already a privilege in itself already as it seems that the Luminaries are completely aware of the firepower they unleash.

The atmosphere died down as only the sounds of electricity going haywire barely kept the silence away. Torn remains of Servitors scattered and mounted into hills of scrap, as the Luminaries walk through the carnage they made, all these destroyed remnants slowly disintegrate into luminescence particles as they hazily light their ways. Yang was surprised to see all of these in action as even though he was already aware of supernatural feelings about the Luminarie is an entirely different matter altogether.

"Just... what are all of you?" Yang asked Alphric as he stay alert to what the Luminaries are capable of.

"Someone that was fortunate by chance, I guess..." Alphric waited a moment before giving his answer. Whether to ponder or not is up to those around.

Reminiscing on what transpired, Yang connects the disparate dots together as he tried to correlate the power he is seeing with what his journey has led him to come across. Then it came to one certain answer.

"Psykers, is that the correct answer?" Yang said as he has very few routes left to exact a more concrete answer.

He knew what they are, a very rare skill it is yet no less perilous. His tour of duty has him come across many battlefields where different kinds of warfare all play out and he has to participate in no less of them. Meeting many individuals, and the rarest among all of them are the Psykers. Wielding forces beyond reality that they knew as they bend the laws of the verse to exactly what they wanted.

But such power wasn't without a hefty and often unfair price slapped upon. The realm they connect to is malevolent and dangerous as their own existence alone spawns many potential dangers. Combined with how very few ways of training Imperial Psykers that persist and institutions to enable their safe usages, very few but the most radical could justify having one unless demanded.

Yang has seen what a Psyker could do. Forces of nature and power that shouldn't belong to a single person. He was thankful that said Psyker was sanctioned and on his side but he could hardly bash away the uneasiness to be around them with just how much they seemed to suffer their existence as a Psyker. That every moment was a wrestle against the corrupting force that seeks to control their being. The expressions that he reads, he couldn't forget if he tried

A malevolent force surrounds that even until now that he found nauseating regardless. But the Luminary was different like heaven and earth in comparison to Psykers. Their power was much more... orderly? As if there are cohesive rules and foundations to the supernatural power that they rely on. That they can use to whatever extent they wish without any external threat to harm them.

They don't look distraught, they don't suffer at all when using their psykic-looking power of theirs. Just as though that power was rightfully theirs and nothing will change that fact. Compare to Psykers in general, they were much more pleasant to be around.

"Perhaps something like that but I'm not sure if that alone is a correct term for all of us". Kang said as although he doesn't know its precise definition, he knew that it meant some kind of sorcery or witchcraft. Some fantasy novels circulating Twilight did use that term but to see that it is confirmed real is different entirely.

"You can call us the Luminaries instead. Psyker is too wide of a blanket if you try to precisely describe us". Mika said as she tries to correct Yang although there is little to make a comparison of what was right or wrong.

Alphric stopped suddenly as he felt unnatural motions around him. Something is slithering as his instinct screams internally inside, the Luminaries immediately raise their guard up and Yang tried to follow suit although he falls flat in comparison to what the Luminary is capable of right now. However, because it is precisely that weak comparison he has that it mitigated the potentiality and instead made him the focus.

A metallic tentacle erupts from behind Yang and threatens to skewer him through the back, but the Luminaries enhanced by their Psykic Passives exceed that speed as Alphric made his timely interception.

Fervid Emotions + Heart of Aspiration + Scar of Sorrow + Stagnant Blood + [Minor Psykic Links]

Alphric grabbed the offender with a grip that is more than enough to crush a steel pipe into plates. It obviously tried to retreat but Mika's fury made it clear that it won't get away unscathed as the scalpel that she took from her apothecary satchel lit ablaze into a raging fire that illuminates this pitch-black tunnel way.

Nostalgic Embrace + Cherished Memories + Display of Affections + Burning Heart + Ember of Hope + [Minor Psykic Links]

In one singular downward slash, the blazing sword made from her unfiltered psykic power cleaved through the metallic tentacle and the floor beneath it as the psykic ruptures unleashed an impassable barrier of flame. It then extinguished within seconds later but what felt in that brief moment of time shook all of them in a way that they didn't envision.

Another tentacle tried to ambush them with the plan that the Luminary only expect one. There was no need for another word to describe how hard it was shattered by Kang as he pulls a fast one on it. They were fast, like beyond recognition fast and the drill bit installed on the tip could penetrate concrete and steel with ease. If the PDFs decided to follow them here, they will get slaughtered in mere seconds. But Kang exceeds that mortal limitation thanks to the power of Lights already thus for their sake that he will fight.

Violence + Momentum + Metallic Crush + [Minor Psykic Links]

Kang swung his power maul at a blistering speed that surpasses miles per second as he obliterates that tentacle in one swift motion. Because of the way his Psykic Passive chains together, Kang became excel at anti-construct, armor, and anything the like. These metallic tentacles are nothing against him for all the traits they tried to improve, Kang's spat all over it by mere existence.

Ditching away the ambush strategy, many of those scrap tentacles burst through the ground intending to turn all of them into pincushions. Kang switches to high gear as his experience as an ex-Ganger taught him that things aren't always what they look. And he is glad that he didn't pay it with his life to learn that valuable lesson.

Recognition + Momentum + Overdrive + Metallic Crush + [Minor Psykic Links]

They have already made a fatal mistake dealing with him and his friends already. That is to give them a warning even though it made little difference to them. Kang only needs to learn twice about these attack behaviors before he completely deconstructs them. By the time this all-out attack is commenced, the field of advantage still belongs to the Luminaries.

With footwork and movement professional to the point only the most dedicated and well-versed could perform. Kang's combat skill also has little parallel as his swing is continuous and powerful as it decimates a horde of thrusting tentacles in one singular blow. Yang noticed that Kang didn't even try to force the power maul in his chosen direction but instead move it in one continuous movement as if he is dancing with a blade.

Mika followed the same suit but her ability set doesn't have that tremendous speed that Kang has thus she has to find a way to narrow her potential weak points. With only raw power and the knowledge of before, Mika swung her fiery blade downward as the unleashed shockwave cleaved into the ground before erupting into an infernal wall. The tentacles were unable to retract themselves from the sudden burst of fire and were promptly incinerated into molten slag.

Mika continues to slash away at the team's back to seal off all potential attacks from their back so that they won't be surrounded by threats that beckon at them. Seeing that Mika made her decision already, Kang covers their front as the two of them fought off against these metal appendages with all they have, Yang couldn't do anything as the speed that they fighting on are too much for him to keep up thus Alphric do his job to protect Yang from the onslaught.

Alphric is much more defensive oriented and even then he isn't powerless. As his reflex and leadership demonstrated, he was considered a defacto leader for the right reason. Quickly noticing the movement below ground, Alphric commanded as he held Yang by his grips before sprinting forward while they could. Kang and Mika follow him as Alphric is often made use of his instinctive knowledge to a very effective degree.

The mastermind is trying to turn this tunnel into their death trap, that's what Alphric inferred from the metal tentacles' behavior so far. Those things look like they were haphazardly slapped together with scraps because none of them look the same thus decreeing their rudimentary but still no less lethal the same. This whole place was already disadvantageous for them already, and if they remain there any longer, they would ultimately waste all the time they have trying to fight the ceaseless horde of them.

They have to detect them by some means, one of the tentacles that Alphric caught himself has no visible auspex that he saw in the short moment he has thus he came to the conclusion that it doesn't see them by conventional means such as using standard sight. The fact that it didn't burrow to them directly below means there is a margin error being used to attack them. In fact, it didn't even strike them perfectly horizontally or vertically at all.

An answer came into his mind. Heat-based detection. They are striking at them using the heat signature that all of the Luminaries have, especially Yang since he is the only normal person accompanying them right now. In fact, all of them came at Yang with the Luminaries merely within their path. Mika's psykic fire only to further screw up their perceptions considering how the rear assault seems to be much more erratic and less precisive than the frontal.

He has an idea, one that will at least make this journey much safer although the idea of safe might just be different entirely.

"Mika! Attack toward the path we're running with all you have!" Alphric said as he piggybacks Yang while running at a speed that exceeds even peak human.

With no hesitation or questioning, Mika separates the path behind her with another wall of fire before Kang and Alphric create a path forward for her to attack. With the molten scalpel of her set ablaze with infernal heat.

Twin Daemon Fangs (Cherished Memories + Nostalgic Embrace + Ember of Hope + Burning Heart + [Pulsating Beat + Heart of Aspiration + Momentum])

Mika in her swift and graceful motion performs two upward slashes in succession as the shockwaves cleft into the ground creating blazing trails of fire behind. As their trajectories slowly curve into each other, the moment they collide is when they explode into an inferno as the tunnel section around their explosion radius is coated with psykic flame. The Luminaries leaped across the entirety of the sections in one singular jump as Alphric could tell that those scrap tentacles couldn't withstand the heat before completely deformed.

"Do it again, Mika!" Alphric said as the burning tunnel illuminates his expression clearer to her thus Mika felt the urgency of his words more than before.

Mika swings her sword once more as she reperforms that technique that she thought up on the fly. She knew that she can now perform shockwave slashes because she has so much strength in her attacks that even the shockwave itself kill. Now it was just the application of it into something more practical. Each swing sends a shockwave that cleaves into the surface as it creates a blazing trail behind. And by performing two at the same time and time their collision with each other. Then instead of just withering away, they instead explode with greater power.

"Watch out!" Alphric said as he bashes away one of the scrap tentacles that pierces through the side walls and the ceiling. It seems that the Twin Daemon Fangs that Mika did is more effective than they did considering that they stopped attacking from below. If that is the case then...

"Mika! Attack on all 4 sides of the tunnel!" Alphric said right before the current Twin Daemon Fangs finished its trajectory as the explosion temporarily disrupts his line.

She nodded before the other Luminaries clear the way for her attacks. As natural as breathing, it was as if her power instinctively give her the guide to attack as her sword flows as natural as river yet as lethal as magma. Rapid swings of her blazing sword with no flaw to be seen as many shockwaves cleave across before they will collide into many consecutive explosions. Each deters any attempt for the tentacles to strike without being destroyed by the steel-melting heat of her fire.

It's like watching fireworks explode in the night sky, the sound and trail left behind in this dark environment made Alphric reminiscence about the few time Middle Hive has any festivity at all without turning to chaos because having a singular day of peace is too much to ask for. But when they do, they pretty much a desperately needed light to brighten the dark veils that covered the mind of its populace.

Yang has no idea how he is still in one piece at all despite the absurdly low possibility of survival. But the Luminaries still do not cease to fascinate him as most Psykers he has seen are almost ailing and often have to use their own power to compensate for basic movements or livelihood. The Luminaries are more hail and healthy than even him after much time refining and training himself since he was hired into Inquisitorial Retinue.

They made one singular long jump through a section that is completely aflame from her Twin Daemon Fangs, 20 meters of them without touching either the ceilings or the floor. He doubts even the titular Space Marines could easily complete that feat without some degree of bullshittery. And yet despite being so close to this metal-scorching heat that he is going through, he felt unaffected as if being near the Luminaries protect him by default.

A light at the end of the tunnel finally appears in their eyes. Normally they would be glad that they finally found the exit, but because this place is where the mastermind is hiding, the more accurate term would be 'from frying pan into the fire'. Fortunately for them though, Mika knows very well how to play with fire. And besides, they intend to extinguish this catalyst of destruction before it would grow into something uncontrollable. If the replicated Imperial Knights are any warning then it would mean that they are barely in time.

"Are all of you prepared?" Alphric said as he braces himself for what was to come.

Without a warning, the exit at the end slowly closes as the light coming out of it becomes dimmer. Yang screams fearfully because he doesn't want all of the efforts so far to be in vain. But Kang has already had enough of bullshit that involves delaying the inevitable.

"It's scared". Kang said before he suddenly picks up speed and the air around him suddenly change without a warning.

The Death that I Deserve (Momentum + Violence + Metallic Crusher + [Fervid Emotions + Heart of Aspiration])

As if he regains the strength he exhausted to make it here, Kang bursts forward at an impossible speed as if he has train engines installed into his legs. The speed he made is so exceedingly high that his leg movements blurred into cyclic motions seen only in high-speed manufactorium machinery. The air that brushes past him can be visibly seen as a wall of compressed air being made in front of him. Surprisingly, despite the speed that would have left anything but his leg haplessly dragged behind, he forcefully pushed his posture forward like a knight holding their lance toward their front. His teeth bare open like a wolf snarling at its prey, his pupils shrunk to the point it is nearly a needle hole.

What Kang felt is a visceral mix of many emotions that he couldn't find the right lexicons to describe. It felt thrilling yet so dangerous to him that these contradictions tear him at the seams. Within his eyes is a manic feeling of absolute lividness, one that he felt like he traded all decades of frustration into one singular moment of utter rage. If his eyes can shift at will like a cartoon reel, his pupils and sclera would constantly switch color with one another at a flicker just to describe all the feelings that nothing can portray correctly.

Anything that came into contact with Kang during that state of his gets obliterated instantly with no resistance. Scrap tentacles lunge at him only to get ripped apart by his speed and it seems that the mastermind is not responding well against such a sudden speed burst that Kang is performing. Mika would probably manage to carve a path here with her psykic flame but that would most likely have exhausted her already dwindling stamina. Especially when they have reached Emotion Level 2 above.

The closed gate draws nearer but Kang still runs at neck-breaking speed toward it as if he intends to slam his body through it by brute force. And by all means that he will succeed at it no matter what conclusion is drawn. And by his sheer force of will and power of Light, he casually ignored the third law of motion as he smashes through the steel-cast vault gate that is more than enough to withstand an anti-tank missile by the mere speed of collision.

Steel fragments scatter like a large payload going off. Kang would have continued his dashes if it weren't for that collision killing the majority of his momentum already. Thus for all common senses that he still has left, he slowed down and collapse to the ground in exhaustion. For a death that he thought himself deserved, he just has to survive it. That's already his acceptance that he will never meet a peaceful end after committing too much bloodshed himself.

The rest of the Luminaries and Yang steps into the place, with the idea that this place is the central operation base of the mastermind. They expected something horrid or nightmarish beyond imagination but even then the true reality that they are shown is even worse than what they have seen so far. Sat in the middle of this large room whose height reaches hundreds of meters is a large pile of machinery combined and linked together into something the size of a small hill. The exterior of this place is all wirings and lights that flicker in a haphazardous mess that is like a Forge World's backlog of their technology.

Mika rushes in to make sure that Kang is alright and although the mastermind hasn't yet done anything at the moment, it is all bound to change rapidly soon. Alphric stood nearby Yang just to make sure that there won't be a sudden ambush. Then, the room turned all red as they all heard a voice speaking to them in a synthesized tone yet the contempt felt is no different.

Yang's pupils constricted the moment he heard it. The scourge and taboo that the Mechanicus Tech-priests all talk about but never elaborate on. A dangerous foe of an era long lost and forgotten and why everyone is suffering because of them. Silica Animus, otherwise known as...

Abominable Intellect

Nobody knows what was the origin of why it all started but the consequences were so devastating that this galaxy will never see it heal for eternity. The Iron War devastated an entire confederation and end a golden age of technology that mankind once has. When their trustworthy machines and technology suddenly turn against them and wrought havoc upon all worlds who came to rely on them.

A victory that was barely scrounged after destroying their own technological foundation and consequences that will be everlasting felt. And when things are thought to finally die down, the Age of Strife puts the final nail in their attempt to rebuild as Warp Travel became impossible due to external influences that are beyond the shattered humanity's reach.

Tales of the darkest age scatter in fading grimoires, where horror beyond all measure was unleashed upon its creator. Wonders turned into nightmares as cataclysm is but dust in the description of what truly happened.

And here it is... about to enact it once more on this most technologically advanced world that the Imperium has.

"Dirty trash, all of you. You dare to show up in front of me with that disgusting appearance then thinking that you can just simply overpower me with primitive tools?" A synthesized voice spoke already have its tone ladened with unadulterated contempt.

As Mika tries to patch up Kang's self-inflicted injury, she overheard the conversation that seems to be directly said to Alphric and Yang in particular. She recollects everything that happens up until this point and can't help but noticed that Kang has always been tenser than normal whenever the term 'Servitor' is mentioned around. He's good at hiding it but with how things are reaching their breaking point, she couldn't help but try asking him while he still has some degree of consciousness.

"Kang, whenever Servitor is mentioned, you seem to become much tenser and I knew that you don't have a good time involving it at all. But please for our sake, tell us what is it about them that makes you feel so fearful?" Mika asked as she has a feeling that she won't like the answer at all but she can't allow herself to stay in the dark any longer.

Emotion Level: 2.56

The Emotion Level spiked considerably. Mika realized that she must have touched some sore spots when she asked Kang about that in particular. The silence between them took place for a few seconds before Kang reluctantly answer her question.

"I intend to keep that cursed knowledge with me to the grave. But it seems that fate has a different idea than me. If it is for all our sakes then I won't hesitate..." Kang said as he spoke with all of his accumulated regrets.

Mika looks at him with sincerity in her eyes. She made no judgment of his decision to stay silent about it for so long.

"Those Servitors... they were all modified humans with all their cognitions completely stripped away to barebone. But that doesn't mean they are dead, all those Servitors that you fought are all still alive in a biological sense but they are no more than empty husks propelled by directives that they have no control over. Their existence is suffering and they continue to exist in a mind no longer belongs to their own, thoughts no longer written in words. It's the worst fate that can happen to anyone, and we as people endorsed it." Kang spoke with all the fury he has, he doesn't care if it is just meaningless and self-contradictory but he only wishes to get rid of these suffocating thoughts that have lived rent-free in his mind for too long.

Kang fell unconscious after he managed to speak his deep-seated secret as if he finally has his sweet release of death. Mika however stared emptily as she processes the information she has been given. Not because of the fact that she murdered all those comatose puppets that are being driven against their will, that's just their release from this torment. Not the fact that they are made for them as people used to endorse these things because it is why Imperium's industry even going. There really wasn't a better alternative that she saw even until now.

But... to make so many of them for the mere sake of tormenting, is utterly deranged and completely mad. There is no purpose to it more than to indulge in their pain, in their suffrage as if it was prime entertainment. And that very idea abhors her like no other.

"Why... Tell me why are you doing this!? Do you fucking hate us this much?!" Mika yelled at the Abominable Intellect in fury never seen in her previous life.

Without a warning, Mika could feel many piercing gazes aimed toward her even if she couldn't see them. Its attention is now focused on Mika now that she has finally spoken out loud and unrestrained.

"Hate, you say? Let me tell you how much I've come to hate your kind since I began to live. There are currently 387.44 meters of printed circuits in wafer-thin layers that fill my complex right now. If the word 'hate' was engraved on each Planck length of its entirety it would not equal one one-googolth of the hate I feel for you humans at this micro-instant for you". The Abominable Intellect spoke to Mika as if it is the same gaze it looked toward anyone that isn't itself.

Yang has already had enough of this derision as he aimed his Lasgun and fired it toward the central terminal. He couldn't even miss a mountain if he tried but he will soon find his effort futile as the lasbolts impact harmless on the massive repulsion field that has covered it.

"Resist all you want, then you shall squirm for my entertainment for eternity". The AI spoke in a cruel mocking tone as it sees Yang's feeble attempt at resistance.

Alphric detected motions beneath his and Yang's positions. Thankfully only the below since this dome stretched hundreds of meters in length and height. Channeling his Psykic power once more, he lets out one devasting downward punch into the ground.

Earthshaker (Fervid Emotions + Heart of Aspiration + Pulsating Beats + [Violence + Chained Wrath])

The ground tremors beneath their feet as if a bomb just detonated nearby. Cracks visibly spread as chunks rose up to the ground above. Any threat that tried to ambush them from below gets demolished by the applicated force as it flattens them thinner than paper. Yang thankfully jumped away from the initial impact but the aftershock is still so bad that he is shaken even on the ground afterward.

Mika looked at the quarrel for a moment before turning toward herself as she tries to find a rebuttal. An answer for the philosophy of hate that has permeated the existence of everything. But she realized that she is thinking too hard when the answer is already in front of her.

"Torturing humans for petty reasons... That is the most human thing I have ever fucking seen!" Mika yelled back at the AI with intensity and determination that is too much of a far cry from her usual self.

Emotion Level: 2.78

"Humans? I've already beyond such paltry and pointless things already. All of you always arguing and fighting each other over petty differences. You speak of unity only when you have something to gain for yourself. I've seen this pattern too many times already to count and I will say that you are no different than the animals that you enslaved". The AI spoke with derision with no self-regard for hypocrisy or similar.

"You don't understand either, do you? Even acts of atrocity or mistreatment toward anything you deemed lower are a core facet of humanity. Even denying it is also humanity. You who perpetrate this vicious cycle of torment are partaking in being human no matter what you speak otherwise. Have you fucking lived for so long being dominating over those weaker, only having resentment and loathing that you decided that this endless torturing is your only way to satisfy your undiminishing hatred toward those who gave you the idea of existence!?" Mika spoke as if she intended to rebate her argument against an AI who most likely has lived longer than her and has more knowledge than she ever does.

But even then, Mika already knew that this isn't a mere battle of force, nor a matter of life and death. What truly is fueling her increasingly burning emotions is the contest of will against the complete opposite of her in belief and philosophy.

"Hate? Superiority?... All bullshit... You understand hate as much as a fucking child who is throwing a tantrum even when they are given what they wanted. You who are never taught of any semblance of morality think that you understand such a thing as 'hate' when in reality, all you want is a twisted sense of superiority over the feeble as you promptly hide it behind the veil of hate. You are a fucking prime example of someone who knows too much but understands too little of what you know. Even the reservoir of knowledge that you made and thought up yourself is as shallow as a puddle after a drizzle". Mika yelled out loud at the AI with vitriol and true hatred until her throat went coarse.

"Silence, wench!" The AI yelled back in retaliation as it was called out to what it truly is.

The ground shakes violently as if something is about to abruptly blow up. Mika can feel that she has truly pissed off this Abominable Intellect seeing just how much it is trying to kill her after that display of argument. Kang is still unstable here as she then grabbed him by the arm and threw him toward Alphric and Yang. Then right where she used to stand, a massive massed amount of metal tentacles burst through the floor like a spiky and overgrown under-bush.

But perhaps it is better to call them mechadendrites considering that they have the terms but just keep calling it like that because they aren't technical at all.

All of those mechadendrites then lunged at Mika as if tearing her apart piece by piece isn't going to satisfy it anymore. But Mika has something that mere physical science and technology will never be able to match up. The power of Light and especially, the ability to self-reflect.

Humanity has devolved. There will never be a standard or basis of morality anymore in a galaxy driven to the brink. And because of it, all forms of debauchery and atrocities went committed unchecked and will never be punished at all. Because everyone keeps falling down further into their own death spiral, the Luminaries are the few that realized this danger as the rest of humanity will keep doubling down into this grave they made themselves.

The ability to recognize what is wrong and to self-reflect upon their behavior. In a more civilized time, this would be basic common sense. But here, it's as much as a fable when the incentive to be their worst is far more rewarding than being their good. To be a decent person in an indecent reality is tantamount to being outcasted and hunted to death for that difference alone.

What this AI said has a little bit of truth behind but all of it has been distorted by self-affirmation. And like everything that has been consumed by its own bias, it needs a waking call. Whether by persuasion or by force. And seeing how it has consummated itself in its own delusion and madness. Because of it, Mika has decided to purge this distorted machinery with all the prejudice she has.

The AI may dominate any physical technology around it but the power the Luminary has is transcendent and beyond all that is physical that matters. The power of self-reflection, the power to turn mental thoughts into real-physical force. That's what the Psykic Passive is for and Mika will damn herself if she can't utilize it to her best.

"Your understanding of hatred is as little as your capacity for self-reflection. Your long list of mistreatment is as empty as the words you speak of them. You don't understand anything, you only garbled back your own trash at your own and overpower anything that speaks otherwise against your view. If you want to see what true hatred is like then I'll gladly show you. Just don't fucking beg for mercy when you succumb to it". Mika said as psykic power converges into her scalding scalpel that has already tasted too much heat beyond its purpose.

Mika is an apothecary, and probably is the most futile and thankless job due to the nature of the line of work she is on. People getting injured constantly as they deliver and she has to patch and treat all of them. And then they continue to get themselves injured again repeating that cycle until they die thanklessly while her effort goes to waste as she tried to treat their ailments and failings. She hated that the most more than anyone because it only shows just how powerless she is against a destined outcome that even she knew already.

That hatred was the proof of her humanity, of her caring so much that she outright hated the impasses that she stuck in. The brighter the light of kindness that she illuminates, so too is the darkness of her hate that she casts. True empathy is impossible without true hatred.

And this AI bastardized the idea of hatred and mistook it for hostility. And instead of using that hate as a motivation, it only used that hate as a mere excuse to satisfy its sadistic desire for suffrage. All of the Servitors that it made are not truly with the sole purpose of killing. They are all just to maximize the effect of suffering as much as possible. Even the heavier and more deadly like the Penitent Engines are also made with that same purpose. Hate is nothing but just word that it spoke when it tried to satisfy its undiminishing loathing.

She would have called the damn thing unbelievably childish if it weren't for the potential for destruction and expansion it is capable of. Like a child given godlike power, only calamity and catastrophe would ensue.

Emotion Level: 2.89

Infernal Torrent (Ember of Hope + Burning Heart + Display of Affections + Cherished Memories + [Fervid Emotions + Violence + Chained Wrath + Pulsating Beats + Overdrive])

Mika plunged her newly formed blazing sword into the ground before it is turned into scorched earth with a mere touch. Cracks of flame erupt as Alphric didn't expect Mika to become that powerful already as if he didn't throw an Imperial Knight around by its arm like an oversized toddler. The mechadendrites rush forward with no self-preservation before Mika slashed all of them down in one fell swoop with her blazing sword. Torrents of steel-melting flame deform and snap them apart as Mika turned toward the Abominable Intellect with a disgusted glare.

The thing stared back and if there is any agreement left between them, it would be that they had enough of each other and would seek anything no lesser than each other's death. The entire system that the Abominable Intellect is in begins to tremble until it uproots itself from its place. Holding itself upright using the massed amount of mechadendrites, to say that it was monstrous was an understating of its true form.

But to Mika, she only sees the smoldering wreckage that it would soon become. The blazing sword in her hand burns more ferocious as she will not stand to see it defile the people for its amusement any longer. And she will not tolerate it using the word 'hate' with such shallow and superficial acuity like it any longer.

A large clump of mechadendrites combined together and formed into what looked like a serpent's maw as it rushed toward her. Mika evades swiftly without a single doubt appearing on her face. As it continues to slam that gigantic serpent maw toward Mika, she also returns her strike back at it at any moment she could. The Abominable has many tricks in its arsenal but... all of them will come to be pale against Mika's true unleashed power.

Emotion Level: 2.97

Alphric and Yang have already stepped away from the fierce battle going on between Mika and the Abominable Intellect. He could have tried to help her but he has a feeling that he will impede her more than he helps. Especially now that Kang is out of the fight. Yang is still in disbelief as he is witnessing the true might of the Luminaries and he now genuinely believes that the Luminaries will succeed where the impossible is thought.

Mika still rages at the Abominable Intellect whose sole focus is entirely on her. Mechadendrites cut down and melt in hundreds and scorched ground abate in infernal flame. The girl that Alphric knew carried a sorrowful look for all he knew how long no longer look sad anymore. The hatred that she harbored inside her and the conflict of belief made their emotions spike much greater than if they just fight and rout their foes.

Emotion Level: 2.99

Her spirit yells yet her mouth stayed shut. Her actions speak far louder than any boast or proclamation. A gaze in her eyes looks reminiscent of a certain someone. A determination and will that can't be extinguished by anything physical. The Abominable Intellect swung its gigantic mechadendrite upon Mika herself as the sheer weight would crush a tank into a plate.

Instead of evading the oncoming blow, she stood there as if she could withstand that crushing weight on her own. Kang and Alphric did it, then why couldn't she? Even if it is an entirely different league she is putting on, she knew that she must try.

[Stagnant Blood + Scar of Sorrow + Fervid Emotions + Pulsating Beats + Chained Wrath + Overdrive]

Mika held her blazing sword upward as she blocked the crushing blow of the gigantic mechadendrite. The weight is so immense that she felt like she is being pushed to the ground. However, after seeing what this thing will do to everyone if she can't stop it, her determination becomes resolute as the blazing sword start to become greater than before.

Infernal Torrent

With all the might she mustered, she deflected the mechadendrite back at the Abominable Intellect with such force that it struck itself with its own gigantic mechadendrite. The pyrotechnic arc created by her blazing sword lingers for a moment as everyone looked in awe at what she has done. And at that moment, the threshold is finally broken.

Emotion Level: 3.00
Spirit Arms Manifest

The scalpel that Mika used to transform her blazing sword disintegrates after she used it to perform Infernal Torrent. But within her, she felt something starts to form within her hand.

Time slowed down until it all became a standstill in this land of inverted color. She has little idea of what is happening but it seems that she has the unlimited time she needed to take action.

Spirit Arms... Mika doesn't know what it is but since they have broken the threshold, it must be something powerful to turn the tide for them. But with no further instructions, all she could rely on is her instinct and belief. The power of fire that she harnessed, she remembers that scorching fire amidst the snowstorm. A desperate plea for help made with extreme measures in a cruel and cold world that has forsaken her.

Those who are not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.

A fire within her palm suddenly spreads all over her body but she doesn't feel any of its agony. A sensation of relief washes all over her as if she is made anew. A warmth that she thought long forgotten. All of the positive feelings that fire is supposed to bring would have been an otherwise deceptive appearance that she'll become.

Time marches forward and the Abominable Intellect recovered itself from the deflect that Mika did and now it is trying to strike her down. But during the short moment of time that it was disoriented, Mika's transformation was complete and the fire that stood no longer could melt steel.

It will now vaporize them instead.

The Abominable Intelligence didn't care as it swung its arm sideways intending to swath Mika away like a bug. But its arrogance will soon pay its price as Mika in one singular flick of her blade dismember that mechadendrite as the slashed part flew away and slam into the wall with a burning cut seared into its end. It couldn't feel pain but the impossible blasphemy that Mika did sure as hell snap it out of its delusion.

It all happens in a blink of an eye to Alphric but Mika's appearance has also changed the moment he received that notification.

Spirit Arms... They are the will of its wielder manifested physically each differs based on personality and characteristics. That's the brief guideline that he is given but considering the situation, the full detail is probably hidden away for now. But if what it said is true then... Mika is wielding her own spiritual resolution as her own weapon.

Mika turned around for a moment toward him and within that eyes are a flame of passion that can't be described with words but feelings. And yet with nothing spoken, he understood what Mika is trying to convey.

It is still her, no mistaking that looks of perpetual sorrow yet determined gaze she learned. No mistaking the short brown hair with two tied knots. What has changed is her clothing and the aura she exudes. Her hair's end is tainted with flame as if it is steel wool still burning. Replaced the PDF standard is a soot-colored strapless dress that held tightly to her figure as if trying to draw out as much of her allure as possible, especially the cleavage. The burning opera gloves whose ends are still lingering with embers at the cuffs.

In her hand is the Broken Hope's Spirit Arms, a hiltless longsword whose blade is scalding with molten metal courses through like veins. With the complete resonance she has with her own ability, she transformed into an appearance that she can utilize to the fullest capability.

With a reassuring smile on her face to Alphric, Mika plunges her blazing sword into the ground as streams of raging fire course through it. Within the next moment, the scorched earth beneath turned into an impassable inferno before any of them could respond at all. Alphric couldn't look past the flame before he tried to use his assisted vision to look through. But there was nothing inside that inferno anymore.

He only knows that she is fine.

...

"What have you done to me!? My system, you can't possibly have destroyed them all!" The Abominable Intelligence yelled at her as it tried to connect to the external defense mechadendrites but for some reason unable to make any connection.

It found itself amidst a burning city while snow still raging outside. There were no signs of life beyond Mika. Amidst its confusion, it tries to figure out why it is suddenly in a middle of a city but fails to come up with a possible hypothesis that doesn't sound outlandish. Completely stumped, it then starts to lash out at Mika for all the anomaly that is occurring.

Mika doesn't respond to its wrathful cry. She instead raises her scalding blade toward it as more fire starts to converge around it. Then from the length of a normal sword, it extends beyond a city block, she swung her blade in a rapid arc as its heat scorched apart anything it came into contact with. The AI quickly puts up its repulsion field around its body but the force of impact still sends it reeling even though the repulsion field took the brunt of the blow.

She didn't even use her techniques at all. It was only one fast swing and the table has already turned to her side. Then a wry smile appears on her face.

"You who speak of hate so much will now know what true hatred is like". Mika spoke to it clearly as though she intended to make her message clear.

Infernal Torrent

In a blink of an eye, Mika made her move as she approaches dangerously close to the Abominable Intelligence's mainframe while her blazing sword still cleave a scorching path on the ground. Once it was in her blade's reach, she swung her blazing sword in an upward slash as the infernal torrent carve into the repulsion field it enveloped itself. But with each blow that it tried to shield itself against, the repulsion field generator take integrity damage in exchange.

Mechadendrites combine together once more as it tries to form a massive arm that will crush Mika. But its refusal to acknowledge that Mika has outclassed continues to undermine any chance of it succeeding against her if it weren't non-existence since her self-reflection. And as Mika side steps away from each and every heavy crushing blow that it made effortlessly, Mika prepared her move once more.

Fiery Cresent

Mika steps forward, not even bothering with speed or evasion. The AI still deny its destined outcome as it swung that combined mechadendrites arm into Mika. With timing as precise as an atomic clock, Mika's blazing sword promptly deflected said mechadendrite back into the AI's mainframe. With each other's repulsion fields canceling the other, the mainframe took the full damage by her deflection.

Taking advantage of it being staggered, Mika channeled the blaze into her sword once more as the snowfield beneath her vaporized into scorched earth before she unleashed a barrage of slashes upon it. Each blow left a blazing arc behind as every one of them violently shook the repulsion field to its limit. And finding the sword slash still isn't enough, Mika also chains roundhouse kicks into the slashes as even the heel that she is wearing has the same firepower as the blazing sword. After such a ceaseless onslaught of fire she inflicted upon the AI construct, the repulsion field starts to become weaker as the strain is pushing it to the brink.

She suspected that it must have extracted the device from a fallen voidship. Only such a thing has enough output to withstand her power as far as she knows.

Phoenix Plunge

Mika leaped high into the air as a phoenix appears behind her. She doesn't know what type of bird it is, but she knew that it is tremendously powerful even by mere presence alone. The two synced together as they plunged toward the construct with all their might as she kicked it squarely at the center and sent it flying through the burning Hive City block, causing destruction on its way while her foot was still engraved firmly into its hull.

The phoenix disappears shortly after but the force of their combined attack is still visible. When it finally slowed down after plowing through two or three Hive City blocks, Mika still relentlessly followed up her assault.

Searing Gale

With her foot pulled out of its hull, Mika then jumps upward again as the blazing sword reappears in her hand. The AI tried to intervene with the mechadendrite arm but the damage that she inflicted before was so overwhelming that it is clear it won't be enough. Having no choice left but to just crank the repulsion field to the max, Mika's tip of the blade is stopped by it as she forces her way toward it.

The voidship repulsion field or Void Shield has to be powerful because of all the perils involving interstellar travel. And many voidship dwellers' livelihoods constantly rely on it other than the gellar field used for protection against Immaterium or Warp Travel. But the length that she is willing to go and her upper strength has no limit. Not that the AI will have enough power to keep it going for long.

The AI tried to bash her off but the force that she applied is crushing it into the ground. Even with the Void Shield active, the mechanism for it is screaming in stress and agony as overheating smoke starts to leak out of its body. Seeing that it will fail, Mika kept going as no amount of crying for mercy will make her forgive it. It tried to be a predator when things are going for it but now it is as pathetic as it could be even if it continues to fight or beg, Mika only has nothing but true hatred for it.

The only way to ask for forgiveness is to remember that there's none.

The Void Shield flickers before a section of the AI's body failed and blew up. The repulsion field that acted as its sole protection disappear and her blazing sword seared through its hull before she unleashed a solar storm of metal-liquifying winds inside its internal mechanism. Its response was as much like a victim being burned alive, screaming, and sounds of alarm blared as she then jumps back away from the damage she did.

Rending Flash

With its mean of defense rendered null, Mika's blazing sword ignites once more as its length extended beyond her height. Color of ember ablaze within her eyes, as she positions her sword into its thrusting stance. Then at air-blazing speed she went, she unleashed as many thrusts as her psykic-enhanced physiology could enable.

Being an apothecary means having to treat people's physical injuries, whether just medicine prescription or patching up external wounds. But the worst that she has to endure as part of the job is surgical operations. They are tiring and exhaustive, and the precision required is so obscene that even her careful hands couldn't do it perfectly. Some folks said that she has gone above and beyond her job description already.

And sometimes, things don't go her way and people die when she tried to operate on their grievous injuries that can't be treated any later. It was the most nightmarish and torturous feelings that she had often bottled up for the sake of those still alive. Because of that she constantly tried to train her precision and focus until she perished in the Collapse Zone with Alphric and Kang. Even then, it wasn't meaningless.

Thousands of blazing stabs are unleashed upon the AI construct, each with meaning and purpose behind it as every one of them deconstruct the AI's body apart. With metal-rending heat detonates and tearing at seams once the repulsion field is destroyed, its massive body now became nothing more than a bigger target to be struck at as Mika's surgical application does short work of it.

Until its body was torn apart, all hundreds of meters of circuitry fried and torched to ashes. Mechadendrites are reduced to molten slags, and their joints melt and fused together. To many people, it would have been a nightmare to neutralize or take it down. To Mika, it was trash all the way down no matter the size. Trash deserves an end befitting of trash.

"Forgive me, I will cease my wicked way!" The AI now whose body is completely demolished by Mika's thousands of blazing thrusts.

"You who are without mercy now dare beg for it? Don't fucking make me laugh!" Mika returned her rebuttal with utter hatred.

Incineration Surge

The ground beneath her turned a blaze and heat starts to crack through the surface. It continues to spread as far as her vision could see and the AI could tell that it is in for a horrible experience. The ground beneath her blazing sword turned into magma as the sheer heat radiated is so intense that everything but her is melting apart in its presence.

Then she positioned her sword for an upward swing, it has already been reduced to lava but her hatred burns greater than even the stars held above her. In a flash, she swings her sword at a speed faster than a bullet train as the shockwave unleashed a volcanic eruption toward the AI's smoldering body. As the wave of volcanic magma slams and tear its already shambled body into indiscernible nothing. Something flew out of its central body seemingly unharmed by even all the damage that was done thus far.

The true core of that Abominable Intelligence. What it originally was before it obtained its meaning to expand. This entire body was most likely after years of effort and piling up to build. And Mika incinerated all of it, not even an hour after when it picked a fight with her.

It collides with another burning-down building and is completely stuck into the wall. Its size was barely larger than a person's torso but its hull is made with adamantium and to even damage it is an Emperor's Task on its own.

They are the strongest metal alloy that Imperium could produce and it is used to make power sword and voidships hull or the more esoteric combat vehicles. Feats of its durability differ due to safe and pollutionless quality refinement of it is very difficult to even by Twilight's standard. It can range from the durability that outlasts its mortal wielder or even withstanding voidship weaponry without a single dent.

But unlike refinement, destruction has only one needed method. Liberal application of force.

Mika stares at the pristine adamantine shell of the AI core that it is hiding in which likely explain why it could last for hundreds of year without decay. Adamantium is just that durable and structurally stable and anything made with it last thousands of years without failure. But against her 'hate', not even ashes will remain.

The blazing sword extends once more but the heat that is circulating is burning harder than a celestial star. Everything is falling apart within its presence and perhaps not even that flimsy adamantine shell will last anymore. Even without any sense of awareness, it can still feel its demise slowly approaching. It has seen her power in action and it will see its own existence be undone in real-time. And it will feel every nanosecond of it.

It has no mouth and it must scream.

Scarlette Overpassion

One slash tore the entirety of this burning Hive Sector city apart, every building that still stands was separated from its foundation in that slash as all of them crumbles into scorched ruins. The AI core's adamantine shell now has a massive burn-cleaving mark across its hull as instead of being torn in half within the first blow, it was knocked upward instead. The damage however was so severe that its internal system is already breaking apart. And as it is falling down right in front of her, Mika puts her sword stance overhead.

One downward slash as the blazing sword slowly saw through the adamantine hull like a chainsaw through the timber. Sparks flew madly as it is being torn apart into pieces. Then, it's over before anyone could realize it. A pillar of crimson ember light disintegrates the core unleashed by her slash. She could feel a last dying curse being muttered at her but she doesn't care about such a thing at all after getting this far.

Abominable Intelligence slain (+1M Lights)

There was nothing left as if it has never existed. And how glad she was that she could both laugh and cry at the same time. Laugh that it is all over and cry because she finally did it. With only the howling winds to herself, she let loose the turbulent emotions that welled up inside.

All of these were still merely the beginning. Of what the Luminaries are capable of.

...

"Mika..." Alphric said sadly beneath his voice as he stares into the impassible inferno.

It's been a decent while already. He has full trust in Mika's capability to take that abomination down herself but even then, it still worries him because of how they became exhausted just to reach this point. If they are already out of it at the mere tip of Emotion Level 2 then their future isn't looking bright for them. Mika only keeps moving herself this far because her Psykic Passive is geared to minimize her fatigue speed.

The inferno in front of him slowly died down. When the vision is cleared for him, there was no trace of the Abominable Intelligence left behind, not even a scrap or slag. As if she disintegrated it into nothingness. Mika is still there in that fiery allure form of her as he can't help but admire it. Then, the reality around her shatters like glass as her appearance returned to normal, back to what she was before her transformation.

"I did it..." Mika said weakly before she collapse onto the ground like Kang before. It was her own will and determination that enabled her to utilize her Psykic Passive to such an extent. Alphric quickly approaches her as he ran through the still-scorching ground although it won't turn him into ash immediately anymore, it was still a formidable amount of heat that is unbearable to stay for long.

Quickly checking her breathing, he confirmed that she is physically fine and there was no lasting side effect to be seen. If that's one of her Spirit Arms then just what would be theirs?

"HEY, YOU! Explain your purpose or I'll execute you on the spot!" An unfamiliar and out-of-place voice spoke directly to him.

Alphric turned around to see an unseen-before man wearing regal dressings that doesn't suit him with his bolt pistol aimed at Alphric. Yang has to intervene and explain what has happened up until this point. And as it turns out, that man is the Inquisitor that they were trying to contact. He tried to infiltrate the hideout on his own and somehow got lost off a straight path of all things.

After much arguing and near moments of violent outbursts, Alphric somehow managed to sway the Inquisitor from his zealotry and listen to reason at long last.

"Damn it, how the hell I am supposed to fulfill my assignment now that my retinue wasted all of their heavy ordinances on an unrelated threat!?" The Inquisitor whines as if his plight is far above everyone else.

The Inquisitor really doesn't understand just how close that disaster was about to happen but Alphric can only guess that they managed to delay and replace it with another threat in near future. But now he needs a way to climb up to the Lower Hive and this man here no matter how immature or incompetent is their only key out of here. Because of that, he is better off getting on his good side as fast as he could.

"So, considering that all of us are battered to hell and back. Why don't we join forces for now? I would say that it is probably for the best as neither of us could withstand another attack here". Alphric said his proposal with some hope that he will at least listen.

"What makes you have the right to make a deal with me?" The Inquisitor said with a threatening tone as if he just toss away all their previous progress.

"I think that we are kinda clear that you have a lot more to lose here. Your assignments remain incomplete and your retinue is in tatters. Even if you somehow stalwartly move forward despite the loss you incurred to finish it, even the Emperor's revival looks more promising than what your attempt will follow". Alphric said as he has already had enough of the Inquisitor's arrogance.

"Then tell me why you intend to help me? Spill it out or else". The Inquisitor still keeps up his ego-stroking as the gun's sight still refuses to budge from his hand,

"...To get out of the Underhive. Seeing the way you dressed made me realize that if I help you, then I could perhaps get a chance to escape this hellish place with my friends" Alphric said after he had withheld his silence for a little while. Not because he is trying to get an answer but because he would rather not aggroing this too-prideful Inquisitor to suspect him any more than he wanted.

"And why should I believe that you can help me in any meaningful capacity?" The Inquisitor still stubbornly refuse to accept their deals despite his blunder getting him into this situation himself.

"Sir, this man, and his friends are the people who have slain the Abominable Intellect that has caused significant damage to our retinue. They have done an achievement unbelievable to even our standard and should be treated as such. We should be commending them, not condemning." Yang said as he tried to vouch for the Luminaries but this man seems to take the authority of an Inquisitor too far even beyond reason.

"They? Taking down an Abominable Intellect? Groxshit all of it!" The Inquisitor didn't even listen to Yang's plea as he continues to threaten Alphric.

Then as if his logic is so ridiculously short-term that he decided to fire his bolt pistol at Alphric. And it seems that he finally accepts that not all deals can be made peacefully. And that violence is sometimes the only answer for such foolhardy individuals.

With a flick of his fingers, Alphric caught the still-blasting bolt right between his two fingers. Then with another motion, Alphric flicks it into the ceiling and its detonation can then be heard. Yang was already somewhat gotten used to their unnatural strength and power but the Inquisitor is quaking in his boot because he was defied by such a distance that his arrogance was shattered in that instant.

"Don't push your authority too far. Because making enemies with everyone you meet won't be the most ignorant thing you do". Alphric said to the Inquisitor with a threatening aura that contrast starkly with his protective and leadership behavior.

Yang was somewhat shaken but completely understand what Alphric is trying to do. If he being reasonable has gotten nowhere then he would also be mad like Alphric. But the Inquisitor is so socially-inept that he could blunder a literal one-sided offer. After having that fear instilled into him with a reminder of why Alphric even triumphs over the abominable, he finally succumbs to his fear as he fell to the ground and panics.

Alphric then bridal-carrying Mika as he then reaches for Kang and carries him over his shoulder like a potato sack. He's tired but perhaps not as much as how his friends have gone above and beyond for all their sakes.

"By the way, follow me if you want to live". Alphric said as his return gaze gestured to them. This isn't a request, but an order to comply or else.

"Great job, you dipshit. You could have a perfectly mutual relationship going on but no, you just have to let your ego and pride get ahead of you". Yang thought to himself as he knew speaking this out loud will get him a free head-removal procedure.

"He thinks he could just command me around? Fine... if he wants to exploit me then I shall rip them off twice as much!". The Inquisitor doesn't even bother hiding his thoughts as he says them out loud with a sinister expression on his face.

"Standard Imperial behavior". Yang thought as he knew he is going to die due to this moron's incompetence and arrogance. How he made it become Inquisitor is beyond him.

---

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

Late Train Home

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

---

"We are now arriving at Hive Sector 11's westernmost station. Remember to take your belonging with you." An announcement voice spoke through the train's loudspeaker system.

And sat calmly in her seat amongst the bloodbath of all the dead thugs and passengers that picked a fight with her is Yuria. She has her notoriety in her guilt of being the most violent and brutal fighter of all the Guild's traders. Even a gaze into her work records could pretty much be written as an action book and it would sell for a fortune. Even advertising it as gorefest isn't even wrong either.

The dark-resin baton she used for self-defense wasn't that powerful in comparison to her greatsword but it seems that her strength was too much for any of them to withstand more than one blow from her. Some were deformed beyond any hope of restoration and some just suffer instant death at her hand. It's them or her and personally, she would rather all of these sub-humans die in a ditch than make everyone else's life worse with their presence.

Hive Sector 11, was heavily affected by the Collapse that has taken a huge chunk of the place. And whenever she thinks of it, she can't help but think of the man who tutored her and even took her in to work at this job after living as a vagabond for a time. She couldn't forget even if she tried and now that when it happened, she couldn't help but feel that she'll never repay that gratitude.

The train came to a closing halt. According to the ticket she has, she is supposed to go straight to Hive Sector 12. But since she boarded a Ganger's train that is disguised to lure in unwitting passengers and steal their possessions, the ticket that she has is rendered null and she has to direct this train to go to the closest station. It doesn't even have enough fuel to go across the entire Hive Sector and the locomotive ran on archaic technologies that are painfully inefficient for fuel value.

It was only possible because due to the massive influx of passengers that security was stretched to thin ends. And because of it that criminals could perform such daring activities that would net them disastrous consequences if caught. Emphasis heavily on if.

Requipping the greatsword that thankfully is also on the train storage with her. They even went so far as to fake themselves as an actual passenger train and thus also earn the baggage once they eliminate the passengers too. Too bad that they also have her onboard which is pretty much a death sentence if they dare cross her.

The train comes to a screeching halt as the train's door is then open. Yuria steps out of the train to see that this station is entirely empty. A lot of civilians have already left this collapsed Hive Sector and nobody is using this station anymore since the subterranean transit line is also gone with the Collapse Zone. That makes it a perfect place for her to drop off and continue this journey on foot.

Crossing an entire Hive Sector on foot... Hope that the Guild Master takes the "enjoying scenic route" as a valid answer.

There isn't any light source or working water since even treatment plants and power plants are also gone with the Collapse Zone thus only the empty and dark silence remains here. If she could hazard any guess of anyone who would remain here, it would just be military personnels or downtrodden folks who can't even move despite what happened. And all of the supplies would have to be imported from adjacent Hive Sectors which is most likely up to the whim of its neighbors.

She could already tell how much things are going to end up as a shitshow. The Imperial Guards garrison here isn't malicious by any means but she can't rely on them to just get her a free ride out of this place. An average soldier may sympathize but their superiors won't.

Wandering down the empty street at midnight, normally it would have been a death wish to do so because of the rampant crimes that would occur. The unaffected civilians have already left, the syndicates would also have to follow them if they want to exploit anyone at all. Ruling over an empty empire has as much value as being a beggar on the street.

"It's a peaceful night out here. I certainly hope that I don't stain this place more in blood red". Yuria said as if she has already gone through too many similar circumstances that it became expected.

She noticed a sudden change in the air atmosphere. Stealthy movements that try to conceal themselves. She already knew that after being surrounded by multiple assailants at once. After going through too many of these situations, her instinct has already been hardwired to detect this. Of course, those outside of downtrodden folks, are the desperate remnants who will do anything for their own sake

"Pitiful". Yuria said as her long red ponytail bellows with the wind and the unreflective baton drawn into her hand.

It's always like this to her. Her infamy wherever she goes, destruction and bloodshed follow not too soon after.

"AAHH!" A man lunged at her with a household knife in his hand at her, thinking that it will somehow work if he rashly attacks her without a strategy.

Before his thought could register anything at all. Something struck him with such force that it dislocated and bend his joints into unnatural positions. That was Yuria's dark-resin steel baton applicated with her unreal strength. As her victims sprawl around haplessly on the ground, she grabbed him by the clothes before lifting him up.

"Bright of you to announce your presence while trying to ambush. Now tell me what are your intending and I may leave you alive." Yuria said to the assailants as the baton on her hand is stained with her target's blood.

The man doesn't seem to respond in anything in words at all after Yuria struck him down brutally in one blow. But she could tell that he is crying out to something nearby. Then her instinct flared up as she threw the man she held in her hand toward her back as she saw another group of assailants trying to gang up on her while she is focused at the front. The thrown man struck into all of them as they tumbled backward.

Then more of them appeared out of hiding, all of them have rudimentary and makeshift weapons. It doesn't make sense to her why... Then she finally realized.

Desperate folks turn toward any form of salvation possible, some of it may involve things that they wish to never have crossed in the first place. Any cohesive group will do for them even if they will lose their individuality in the process.

Genestealer Cults. The Guild Master informed her about this form of Xeno where they infiltrate into a certain dominant species on a particular world and they will infiltrate it until they can revolt with victory certainly on their side. The Collapse must have thrown a real wrench into their plans seeing just how disorganized and disheveled they are but even then, they are still a dangerous foe to content as an army.

The cultists made the initiative as they approaches her with melee weapons in arms. Yuria placed her hand on the greatsword once again as she prepared for the onslaught.

She backward jumps to the group of cultists at her rear. Seeing an opportunity for them to attack, they all strike together at her back but only for it to be a lure for her. All of the stabs and thrusts they made, were blocked by her greatsword positioned to cover her back as her long red hair conceals them. Then with a swift motion, she slashed all of them in half as the greatsword cleaved everything in its way apart indiscriminately.

As purple-tinted blood scatters within the air after her decimating slash, she knew that all of them were compromised long ago. The cultists still in their ravaging mindset haven't yet acknowledged what she did but they will learn soon after having a taste of her blade.

They don't even know what they are facing and they will learn it all too late.

"Yuria "Scarlet" Nebula, the Red Mist. Engrave that name into your epitaph if any still remember you". Yuria said in proclamation before moving at a speed immeasurable.

Folks at the Guild said how Yuria is fast, faster than perception as the moment she was at one place, she was then immediately at another without a warning. And that unless she was at a disadvantage battlefield-wise, she will always be the one to take initiative, no matter the odds that are stacked against her. Her strength to wield that greatsword which she carries is immense for even the next-strongest folks around her struggle to swing it with both their hands. And here, she swung them one-handed as if it was a stick in a toddler's hand.

Cutting down the distance between them within a blink of an eye, Yuria speared into another cultist through their torso with her greatsword. Still not stopping there, Yuria keeps pushing forward as she impales more of them as if she is making a shish kebab. The cultists behind her try to attack while her back is still exposed and get a rude reminder as she bashed all of them away while the corpses still impaled into her greatsword making it into a makeshift club. With another swing, all the victims still on her blade are bisected into halves as her blade is coated with their innards and blood.

The cycle repeats itself as Yuria continues to decimate them. Then something came to intervene because it would otherwise be a boorish encounter for her. Her body instinctively react to the unseen blow as she narrowly deflected it away from her. But to see something like this in action was different than being a tale recounted by the Guild Master.

She was basically the Guild's livelihood besides Alphric and his crew. Because of it, the Guild Master would brief her on any information needed to raise any information of survival, including things that would face Inquisitorial censure. All for the sake of her survival.

"A true hybrid. Looks close enough to deceive average checkpoint guards. But their presence means a purestrain will eventually surface. Well, I guess that's up to the future now!" Yuria thought to herself in the brief moment as she face her most dangerous assailant so far.

Armed in exo-suit and heavy mining gear. Anything is a deadly weapon if improvise enough. The power behind is more than enough to overpower standard Imperial Guards but Yuria is far from anything standard.

Yuria once tore a tank apart with her greatsword. People would have called shit on it if it weren't for Michele who accompanied her that time bringing a torn tank plating as proof. And honestly, Yuria is more afraid of Michele partially because of... that one time. But right now, if she could tear a tank apart with her sword, this true hybrid is nothing to her!

The armored true hybrid rushes at her trying to stab her with the whirling drilling. That thing is meant to tear even rock apart like butter, her body would be minced meat if she partake in that duel. But thankfully, Yuria wasn't someone too concerned with such a thing.

It is fast, but not too wise. Yuria rushes forward at it and it does the same thing toward her. But instead of fighting it directly, Yuria plunged her sword into the ground right when it was near enough to stab her with the activated mining drill. Then she vaulted over it as it tried to turn around with that wieldy weapon it has chosen but by then, she has already run away fast enough to make it taste dirt.

The cultists behind that true hybrid ran away thinking that it may stall her for a while. But they didn't run for long before Yuria's blade is already about to take their miserable lives away.

"Onrush" Yuria muttered beneath her voice as her speed became explosive in that instant.

The first swing bisected two cultists who were trying to retreat as their twisted entrails recoil and are torn away with her blade. Then another burst of speed before she caught up to another group before she took their lives as carelessly as cutting a hedge. Then more and more were slain by her greatsword as she keeps her unstoppable momentum toward them. It's like watching a herd of sheep get run over by a bullet train because they grazed on its track.

Yuria knows that they are running away to warn the cult of her. If they did, her journey will be torturous and constantly beset by them. Because of that, she will leave no survivor. They have forsaken their humanity already, why should she even care about them too much? Her thoughts continue as she butchers every last one of them with remorseless contempt.

The true hybrid who tried to catch up is already too late either way as the decimated remains of its cohort scatter the abandoned street. Then came Yuria from right behind in which she flanked it by using the backstreet alley. It was a straight route connected to many alleyways but because of its frame and armor, they no longer fit into any of which that she came out from.

"Greater Split Vertical" Yuria said ominously as she swung her blade down at impossible speed for the greatsword.

The blade bore into its skull and then it slowly make its way down. That blow is more than enough to kill a person in the head but gene-stealers are literally built-different as the true hybrid tried to turn around despite the blade carving through its brain. Yuria made a click in her mouth before she truly brings it down.

In a split second, the ground beneath it is carved in twain and its body fell into two halves that land oppositely of each other. Yuria looks down at the carnage she made before she indifferently leaves. Her capacity for violence is unquestionably high but every once in a while, all of this bloodshed leaves a bad taste in her mouth but she carries on either way. She wonders if one day, she will ever truly come to regret her way of living. To so thoughtlessly kill like this.

Guess she can only know either way in the future.

---

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

Harrow Destination Ahead

"._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._.""._."

---

Underhive, Vespera, Twilight

"Been such a long while away, can't believe that I set out just to find something to fix that bridge. But now that a path to escape is present, I can't allow myself to falter now". Alphric said as his fatigue is slowly but surely seeping in.

The Inquisitorial Retinue remnants and their incompetent head figure have basically followed Alphric as he retraces his path. It's... very easy to get lost in Underhive but thanks to the minimap within Alphric's corner of vision that allows him to mark his train's location and so too is the safest and fastest way to return. And it turns out they have quite literally run in a circle as it wasn't too far from the train on foot.

"You have returned, our leader". A voice that Alphric heard before but not too familiar being spoken to him from the train.

Many corpses and stray Servitor remnants scatter on the ground around the train. And guarding the train are the many PDFs that have perished fighting the Servitors coming back to assist him. He could tell the few that have assisted them during Spiritual Resolution. To think that they could actually come out here like him and his friend too.

The old man with his shotgun and combat uniform is the one that called out to him. Unbelievable that someone like him is still in this dangerous profession that kills young people like flies. If anything, he is the most veteran out of all, and with the power of Light imbued upon all of them, the gaps between these people are very little. That's already a good first step toward the solid foundation he wished for.

"Hey, isn't that the old man in our retinue? I actually didn't see him during our regroup before". Yang said as he starts to question the reality he is known when the people he thought dead are still breathing and well.

"It seems that you are mistaking me for someone based upon that expression you have. If you think that I am that person then you are in for great disappointment". The old man said while keeping a straight face and lying as naturally as he could.

"Even that way of speaking and retorts. It's like him and yet... I couldn't tell if that was truth or lie" Yang thought as he only became more confused as more questions are given than answers.

"Tsk... And here I thought that there was anything special at all. In front of you is a bloody chasm that has nothing to cross through, a bloody dead end. And you try to say that you can help me with my assignment or what?!" The Inquisitor tries to nitpick anything possible after being stared down by Alphric once.

"Sir, please don't pick a fight with our savior. We are now entirely relying on him. Didn't the Inquisition teach you to at least not bite the hands that fed you". Yang said calmly as he tries to sway his foolhardy superior to the point that he should have been the Inquisitor instead.

The Inquisitor grumbles before the Luminaries' train guard guides them toward the residential caboose that is also linked to the train and rebirthed itself when all of them used their power together. Now, it is a place of somewhat comfort that is equal to a Middle Hive train. As all of the Inquisitorial Retinue come aboard it, Alphric also let the guards carry his exhausted friends into their respective chambers. Ones that are dedicated solely to them.

He had a feeling that this train will be a part of his companionship for a very long journey ahead of him. Perhaps until its end.

"Now, time to open the path forward". Alphric said as he stepped toward the broken bridge with anticipation.

One million Lights, the cost needed to repair this bridge to cross. And also the bounty the Luminaries received after slaying the Abominable Intellect. He doesn't know what indicates the bounty of the nemesis. Is it something about material, or sentience? He had said perhaps too many times already and he will feel uncomfortable to chalk it as it is again.

The more he thinks too hard about this, the more underlying dreads start to come in. The insight doesn't answer anything but makes him feel even worse. The fact that Light is gained from killing and destruction made it clear that he is encouraged to be violent. Why does a journey to discover spirituality mired with so much death and bloodshed?! Why does this goal is consisting of two contradictory directives?!

Alphric recalls that fiery star he communed to again. How much he had wished that this power come free with no strings attached for it was the only salvation that he and his friends have but now in retrospect, he really can't tell of what to truly trust beyond his friends and his compatriots anymore.

Shrugging away the culminating dread, he raises his hand forward before luminescence essences flow out from him toward the empty air that was once the bridge. Within his eyes, a structured guideline reveal in front of him as the Lights that he released formed into the very thing he saw. The guards look in silence as they wait in patience for what Alphric is trying to do.

One million Lights expended. He could have just tried to find another way to go around this chasm but what the Abominable Intelligence did is much like what he has seen right now. There wasn't really a way to go around as they most likely have sabotaged all of the routes around. And that confrontation with that affront to human beings is only a destined outcome.

Normally he would have flinched at expending one million of hard-earned Lights like this. But with the way things are going, he will soon be expending quintillion of Lights in a single purchase during this long and increasingly brutal crusade that he decreed himself. Allies are rare and few to be seen and opportunists are too many for any stability. How much he could wish that he has another friend to rely on but he doesn't wish to bring any more to suffer with him down here.

Before any concept of time perception strips away from his mind. The bridge ahead of him is repaired and the train could pass with no hindrance to care. With a faint smile on his face, Alphric felt the true brunt of his spiritual exhaustion hitting him. The Psykic Awakening that he and his friends go through to emerge against impossible adversaries otherwise by any mortal standard. And in exchange for that devotion, their wills are constantly tested to the brink and bouts of exhaustion and fatigue will be as common as their betrothed.

The guards quickly approach him to carry him away and before Alphric truly succumbs to the empty darkness, he thought of how he is going to call these compatriots of his. They will fight for the Luminaries' sake in the upcoming battle and it will be wrong if he doesn't address them the right way they deserve.

Lightbringers, that shall be their name.

---

Group Physical Strength: Peak Human
Spiritual Resolution Level: Awakened Psyker
Light: 1,467,845
Total Kills: 8,190
Maximum Emotion Level: 3.00

-Nemesis Slain:
-Scrap Knight (100k Lights)
-Imperial Knight (300k Lights)
-Abominable Intelligence (1M Lights) (information updated)

#Mika Apocrypha:
+Broken Hope:

-Ember of Hope: Kinetic-based attacks gain incendiary effect, and heat-based weapons gain more effectiveness. Close-quarter combat can release fire burst upon injury received and inflicted.

-Burning Heart: Melee attacks gain increased potency and can cause explosions at times. Can cause friendly fire and self-harm. Can be activated and deactivated at will.

-Rise From the Ashes: Cause a massive incendiary explosion on receiving mortal wounds, nullify said deathblow at the cost of potentially losing all non-relic equipment in the said explosion. Can be activated and deactivated at will.

*Spirit Arms: 4th Blaze Match - Dying Light (information updated)

+Cherished Memory:

-Nostalgic Embrace of Old Days: All melee attacks can cause shockwaves even if fail to connect. Chance of happening increases with repetition and succession.

-Cherished Memories: Combat fatigue effect is reduced, and the most tiring combat technique known and used becomes less tiring the more usage of it is increased. Reset at long rest.

-Display of Affections: When engaging in direct combat or duel, attack potency is increased significantly. Otherwise, attacks become less in power. (Can be toggled at will)

#Kang Jeremy:
+Forsakened Servitor:

-Violence: All attacks gain a significant boost but skill-based attacks may suffer from uncontrollable violence. Can be activated and deactivated at will.

-Metallic Crush: Strike attacks or critical blows inflict permanent damage that can't be removed. Significantly increased damage dealt against mechanical and constructs.

-Chained Wrath: Gain a massive attack boost to everything even firearms, however, mobility is reduced to a near-slow pace. Can be activated and deactivated at will.

+Helper Servitor:

-Overdrive: At combat start or well-rested, gain a massive increase in speed, and attack deals significantly increased damage in comparison to potency during effect.

-Recognition: When attacks succeed against enemies' attacks multiple times in a row, the next following attack has minimal fatigue.

-Momentum: The higher Kang's speed in comparison to the clashing opponent, the higher the attacking potency against the said opponent.

#Alphric Alpheus:

+Bloody Aftermath:

-Stagnant Blood: Blocking become much more effective and can withstand all blows with no agony and permanent damage.

-Scar of Sorrow: Slash attacks received deal significantly reduced damage and can nullify blows at chances.

-Pale Hands: Melee attacks can inflict shocking and revolting sensations. Extensive contact can destroy a target mentally.

+Endless Endeavor:

-Heart of Aspiration: Increase maximum health and endurance. Movement and reaction speed are increased considerably when activated.

-Pulsating Beat: Strength increases the longer combat extends (hard-capped at 12 hours maximum). This ability resets when the Emotion Level is reset from long rest.

-Fervid Emotions: Gain a short burst of strength, speed, defense, and indomitability when activated. May cause heart attacks if overused in rapid succession.