Chapter Fourteen
…
Let us sing then and let us sing together,
Of golden palaces and forests of winter gossamer.
Where weapons crack amid powers of Lightning and Thunder,
The Emperor of Mankind and the Hands of the World's Potter,"
-Snape Snivellus Severus, Royal Minstrel, Great Crusade
…..
Time Immemorial Before the Golden Age of Technology of Mankind
Morgana watches mesmerized as John shows to her the Warp as he sees it. The multi-colored dimension that exists born out of the world's thoughts, emotions and physical manifestations. It is a realm of peace and of terror, of wrong and of right, of balance and imbalance, of Chaos and of Order. Far ahead she can feel the thousands of souls of other Psykers obviously gleaming in the light and brown maelstrom of the Warp, like spotting stones over a field of sand, she can see them all.
"And there they are," John leads her to see even more far ahead to the great pantheon of the Aeldari gods currently ruling over the Warp. Each is a manifestation of a being given form by the old gods through soul crafting to each control an aspect of life and death.
"This feeling, they are almost like the Olympians of Earth, only magnified a million times in power," she breathes out as she let her senses touch the radiant auras of the major deities currently ruling the Immaterium. She can feel power, rage, home, family, kingship, but mostly authority and respect as demanded. The power of Asuryan that covers and encompasses all, a beacon of Order and a font of great power.
"Wow!" whispers Helaena as she can feel the ancient king's power ruling over all the Immaterium. She can feel that he can also feel her but either doesn't care or are not interested enough. With the height of the Aeldari Empire at its highest, there are more big fish to fry for the High King other than the psykers of petty humans in a backwater world whose potential capacity would not rival any of the weakest of his people in terms of psychic strength.
"So the Pantheon of the Aeldari gods are the ones ruling over the Immaterium and keeping the peace?" asks Morgana.
"Indeed they keep the worst of the worst of the Immaterium in check and maintain the balance. Khaine balances Khorne, the Blood god, Morag Thai keeps the depravities of Tzeentch and his riddles from getting out and Isha balances the plagues of Nurgle from overrunning the Materium. Again I must stress out to you Morgana that you would not view the Warp without me, not as you are today at least. I will teach you how in time, but not now, not yet," intones the man who would be the Emperor of Mankind in the future.
"Yes, I promise," says Morgana as they both awake from their meditation.
Is it really a surprise that being the Gryffindor she is, Morgana wanders around and brings out a Nurgling into the material world much to the consternation of John who has to be the one to save her ass.
….
Planet Helen, Vertigo Corridor, Imperium Nihilus
"My lady I must protest this action that you are about to undertake," Chapter Master Marneus Calgar of the Ultramarines sounds out as he tries his damnest not to glare testily down over the shorter frame of the Empress of Mankind. With his ancient armor that has been given only to the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines to wear throughout the millennia, Calgar looms even over the tall frame of the Empress of Mankind who is not short in the least when it comes to height.
In the original timeline, Calgar would not even be in the Indomitus Crusade as he has to rule Ultramar in Guilliman's stead as the Primarch has to personally lead the Indomitus Crusade due to him being the only loyalist survivor of his family. He has to carry the burden of ruling and protecting an Imperium whose work load out should have been distributed to twenty demigods with superhuman abilities and skills. Calgar thus has to be the one standing where Guilliman should be at Macragge fighting off the legions of Mortarion encroaching upon Ultramar one world at a time.
In this timeline however with the Indomitus Crusade reforged and strengthened by the mighty Clone Legions, it blazes forth like a hot spear cutting through leather saving and strengthening more worlds in the process. The fact there is also is that Guilliman is not alone and have the aid of the Supreme Authority of the Empress, and the bureaucracy of the Imperium as a whole. The weight of the Empire created thus by his father does not solely fall on his shoulders alone, especially with the return of both the Lion and Dorne. Thus with this, Guilliman can afford to send the best of his sons both First and Second Foundings back into the galaxy and aid where they can through the innumerable problems besetting the Imperium of Man. Of course in his absence and with the Empress heading out to the dangers of Imperium Nihilus, Guilliman has assigned him, Marneus Calgar to represent the Primarch in his place at the Queen's presence. That of course comes with the stipulation that he do his utmost that the Empress not suffer a single hair in her head damaged. The Chapter Master of the Ultramarines gets a feeling that he would have his hide tanned by his gene father before all of this is over.
"Your concern is noted grandson," the Empress smiles at him making butterflies glow at Calgar's chest and also pride. The maternal feeling that the Empress has with all of the Space Marines she never hides. It is suffice to say a new feeling for the members of the Adeptus Astartes.
As a Space Marine, they live and die as warriors of the Imperium. It is to be expected of them and they have no qualms about it. To be of service to the Emperor and to their Chapter is more than enough for any battle-brother. It is their pride and it is their glory. They know what is expected of them in this life. Yet to have someone care for them other than warriors? The Space Marines. Gene-grandsons of the Emperor of Mankind have zero experience in the field. Thus when the Empress of Mankind start calling them her grandsons, many are caught flat footed like ducklings in the water. On one hand the familiar maternal connection is obvious and secondly, none of them can deny that they already loved her as they loved their gene-father at first glance.
"My Empress," begins Calgar only to balk at the stare she's giving him.
"Grandmother, please. Do not do this. I promised my father I would keep you safe and I cannot do that if you leave," insists Calgar.
Long story short, the Empress plans to leave the Indomitus Crusade for a "personal mission" of hers and taking only with her, her personal guard of three hundred Custodes, the fifty or so Sisters of Silence and for some reason, the ten Drukharii ships which would be following behind her own. Something which galls the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines.
"Does she not trust us?" he more than once wonders to himself. "What do we don't have that those filthy Xenos have?"
"It must be done my grandson," answers Helaena placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Do not fear for my safety for although I am walking into danger, I would be well-protected. As for you, you already know why you must stay here and lead the Indomitus Crusade in my stead,"
Calgar resists the urge to grit his teeth as he can see the wisdom in her words. Imperium Nihilus is in deep need of HELP and that is in all caps. With planets sundered from each other, trade and cooperation which are present before have all but broken down. That's not to mention that the dimming of the Warp has caused traveling ten times more harder and many ships can only make short warp jumps which results to even more delays either through communication or information. Worse, taking advantage of the weakened state of the Imperium, different Xenos, especially the Orks have started attacking the reeling cut off worlds which resulted to entire systems either massacred to the last man or subjugated to these monster's whims. Of course worse afflicted are the ones nearest to the edge of the Cicatrix Maledictum. Entire systems have been taken over by daemonic forces, Chaos Space Marine warbands and of course falling to the worship of the Dark Gods themselves.
The Indomitus Crusade has no time to waste. They need to blaze through this worlds either through liberation or annihilation. With the Empress leaving for a while, the only notable choice for the management of the Crusade is none other than Calgar himself. He has the power, the standing, and the skill to traverse the diplomatic landmine that the Crusade is sure to face. Not all after all would be thankful with the presence of the Crusade. Grieving men and women more times than one tend to react harshly against their very saviors. There can be no other for the place as head, and despite being flattered by the position of honor the Empress is putting him in, Calgar knows he would be at risk of jeopardizing the mission that his Primarch has left for him to do. Again he is sure that his Lord Guilliman would tan his hide if he ever gets wind of Calgar allowing his mother to go without a fleet to protect her.
"I have to do this my son," repeats the Empress. "I've got a good feeling that this journey of mine would lead me to another of my lost sons and thus would be able to help us secure the Imperium as a whole even more," she smiles. "If you're worried about me and I'm sure your standing orders from my son Roubutte, don't be. I know he means well but he is overprotective of me and sometimes forget that I am more than capable enough of protecting myself very well. So stop fretting and do this mission for me of leading the Crusade, alright?"
Calgar really REALLY wants to say no. He is definitely not okay with this but he surprises even himself as he finds his head nodding in surrender to the will of the Empress. It is a direct order after all from the one assigned by the Emperor to rule in his stead.
"Thank you Calgar," smiles the Empress at hip patting his shoulder once again before walking off. "May all the luck that the Emperor can bestow be with you,"
"We will not fail you my Empress, this I swear!" booms Calgar loudly.
"I know you won't my boy, I know you won't. You are of my line after all," she smiles one last time before a flash of light engulfs her as she is beamed to the Orion.
Calgar watches as the small ship zooms past the windows of the Gloriana Class Battleship getting out of the protection of the Fleet before opening a wormhole. He simply stares as the Orion zooms towards it, its void shields turning on at the last minute before jumping into the warp and disappearing from the material world.
"May the Emperor be with you Mother," whispers Calgar before turning back his attention towards the Adepts.
There is still a crusade that he has to manage and worlds to win.
…..
The Orion, Bridge
It is Lilith who first senses it, the presence of what could only be other Aeldari minds, clumped together, wild, untamed, and powerful. Only one faction of those that remains of her people has such minds and she wastes no time leaving the large quarters of the Empress (which the two of them have been using quite a lot these past three days), as the ship traverses the Warp towards the direction guided to them by the feather that Helaena plucked from the dead Ork Warboss.
"Let me pass," she simply says as she reaches the entrance of the bridge guard by two Custodes who wordlessly looks at one another before by some communication that Lilith doesn't understand, finally lets her proceed to the bridge where she sees the Empress standing in a red dress fiddling with her personal hologram over one matter or another. Behind her are two other Custodes while a Sister of Silence are also present in attendance as the Empress' personal guard.
Feeling their eyes bearing on her, she strides forward confidently. Despite looking nonlachant, she has already calculated through her mind a hundred different ways to avoid any upcoming strike from the Empress' personal guard if they dare move against her. She smirks as she passes by them, seeing clearly the miniscule twitching of their finger muscles as she sashays past across their guard.
"Lilith, what are you doing here in the bridge?" asks Helaena now turning her attention to the Dark Eldar who wastes no time draping herself over the soft comfy chairs of the sofa inside the small captain's lounge that belongs to Helaena. She wastes no time grabbing the wine at the table upfront and taking a swig from the bottle directly before staring at the Empress.
"We are heading to an Exodite World," she simply says. The small "aahh" from the Empress speaks of all the complication that they are heading towards.
Exodite Worlds are probably places that one would expect it to be. These Aeldari have rejected the automation that both the Asuryani and the Drukharii enjoy, instead opting by choice to do the menial labor that make every single day worth living for. They are tribal and strong opting to use dragons (dinosaur like beasts) that their ancestors seed on their worlds so long ago as sources of food, drink and clothing for their daily life. That does not mean that Exodites choosing to live a rural lifestyle though means that they are weak. No, far from it. Exodites by choice choose not to follow the path of technology, yet it does not mean that they are useless. Their relic weapons are some of the finest that the Aeldari Empire pass on and the craftsmanship of the edge of their blades can rival even that of their Asuryani brethren. They would also die to the last man to protect their World Circuit, the resting place of their Spirit Stones where their ancestors have been lain to rest since time immemorial. Ironically usually, the Asuryani Aeldari go to the defense of an Exodite World when they are threatened.
"Will they be hostile to us?" asks Helaena even as Lilith places her legs at the lap of the Empress enjoying how soft her thighs are.
"Probably, Exodites are a mean people when it comes to outsiders though thankfully they're not as high and mighty as the Asuryani. I suggest me and my cadre go down first with your daughter. Let us assess the mood of the nearest settlement before we make another major decision," says Lilith accepting the apple thrown to her by the Empress before munching on it.
"Will they not be hostile to the presence of a half-Eldar?" she asks even as Lilith swallows the bite.
"I don't know. Exodites are not the brightest of the bunch when it comes to sensing people. That is more of a talent that belongs to the Craftworlds. Superficially, Luna looks Aeldari enough to pass but we never know if we would be able to stumble on Outcasts there, or worse a Harlequin. The former are alright for a good price and a bargain. Outcasts are lone wolves and you could usually strike a good deal with them most of the time. They frequent Exodite Worlds so it would not be surprising to see one in the area. If we ever meet a Harlequin, then we need to think of another plan. Those dancers are too loud to keep a secret and forget about even trying to hide it,"
"Will they not shoot at you Lilith?" asks Helaena. "I mean you are Drukharii after all and with your faction's reputation, it would not be far fetched that they might be able to feel threatened by your cadre's presence,"
"My faction before usually trade also with Exodite Worlds so it's not uncommon for them to see us. Exodite Worlds are probably the neutral ground between us and the Asuryani. Both factions after all need the raw materials being traded by the Exodites. Worse comes to worst, I still have the Seal of Representation of the Ynnari that Yvraine has given to me. At least that would give them pause if they are the fighting type,"
"Really?And where are you hiding such seal?" questions the Empress looking at the revealing attire of Lilith which hides almost nothing.
The Dark Eldar only grins before leaning in to the Empress that her face is almost a centimeter away.
"Don't you want to know my dear Empress?" she waggles her eyebrows suggestively. "I can show it to you somewhere more….private,"
Understanding immediately flashes on the Empress' face. For a second Lilith doesn't think she would take the bait. She surprises her however as she takes a swig from the wine bottle that Lilith had taken a drink from before. Making smacking sounds as she licks her lips sensually.
"I really want to see it, now come. I believe that you can show it to me more privately in my quarters. It is official after all,"
Lilith only snorts at the teasing and the foreplay. "Very well, let us go. Seeing this sigil might cause you to be rather louder than normal in amazement upon seeing it. Especially where it is hidden," she smirks victoriously as she can feel the glares of the Custodes and the Sisters of Silence drilling on the back of her head.
"You automatons can watch as I drill your beloved Empress to pleasures beyond count,"
…
Five Hours Later, Planet Illuminara, Exodite World
The Orion drops from hyperspace right above the planet to one thing that none onboard the ship expects, a space battle.
Green ships bearing the tell-tale light of the Necrons are present dishing out energy bolts to the Hundreds or so traitor warships trading fire back at them. The Traitor warships bear the sigil of the Word Bearers, and with this number present, there can only be one conclusion.
"My fallen son is here," whispers Helaena as the Orion ducks and banks the space battle dodging left and right the trade fire of the two fleets. The Chaos Ships have the Necrons outnumbered five to one but it is an even fight as the powerful hulls and energy shields of the Necron ships are leagues above that of the scavenged Chaos ships bombarding them.
"What do we do your majesty?" asks the pilot banking away as a stray laser nearly catches the edge of the Daedalus class ship. Currently the smaller ship has successfully ventured out of the middle of the battle which it has been dropped on and are now skirting the edge to prevent a direct fire from hitting it. One or two anti ship lasers strafe the hull but the shields of the Orion stand fast even against the mighty technology of the robotic zombie aliens.
"Disengage the shield and activate the stealth system. Maintain course at the edge and try to avoid detection as much as possible good man," answers the Empress cooly watching as a corrupted Chaos Luna class vessel explodes in a rictus of metal and debris, courtesy of an energy beam by the Necron vessels.
The pilot is only too happy to comply as he follows the orders. Soon the entire ship disappears as the stealth system of the Orion come to life shielding the small ship to any prying eyes or sensors. Even the mighty Necrons soon lost interest on the small ship that appear on its radar only to disappear. There is much bigger fish for them to fry other than the blip of the Imperials. Thus as the Necron and Traitor Warships of Lorgar's ilk continue to duke it out, Helaena turns his attention to her group who has gathered at the command deck.
"Well this is a quandary I certainly do not expect ladies and gentlemen. Lilith, are we sure that this is an Exodite world that we are landing on?" Helaena asks.
"I am sure Empress. I can feel the World Spirit down below singing. Only a world with a buried Infinity Circuit could do that,"
"The question is, what is the traitor Lorgar doing here?" asks Kitten striding forward, his bulky Guardian armor gleaming in the green light of the holographic displays. "Why would he leave the Warp and be found here of all places?"
"We can never know of my lost sons," answers Helaena with a tired sigh. "With the corruption of Chaos, they have become hard to predict, their former moods and practices twisted or changed. One thing I am certain though is that Lorgar is planetside else his fleet would not be offering this much of a fight against a superior foe,"
"That and the Asuryani would surely be coming," adds Lilith grimacing as every eye in the room turns to her who is sitting on a table, her legs spread all over a command console. "The Necrons are a grave threat and an ancient enemy to any of the Aeldari. A force this size would surely be seen by one of their Farseers. They would be coming especially with an Exodite world being in trouble. The Asuryani might be uptight pricks but they would never leave any of their kin behind to die, much less a Spirit World to fall into the servants of Chaos' hands,"
"Are we even sure that any of the aliens down below are alive?" points out Jael, the cannoness of the Ardent Light Order grimacing at the word "aliens". "This is one of the Traitors we are talking about, the original ones and they are no slouch when it comes to fighting,"
"I agree with Jael. We change our plan," says Helaena straightening. "This would not be a cooperation mission anymore where would be allying ourselves with the locals but a strike plan. We find out where Lorgar Aurelion is and we cut off his head before we search for my loyalist son, Corax. If the Exodites are non-hostile to us, we under no circumstances not shoot them but if they open fire first then all bets are off. Do you understand?"
"Yes your majesty!" everyone bows.
"Lilith?" she turns to the Dark Eldar who has not bowed compared to the rest.
"Yes?" the Drukharii saucily replies licking her teeth with her tongue. "Take your best Wyches and scour the planetside. I want boots on the ground connecting information for everyone to be of proper use and work. If you find the place or camp of Lorgar then you report back to me, post-haste. Take Luna with you. Her skills and power would be of help to you in case you run into trouble.
"I will do that Lady Empress, don't you worry about us," she replies with a grin before walking out with a skip in her step. "Don't worry, I will take care of your daughter,"
Helaena just snorts even as her companions around bristle with the innuendo of the Dark Eldar.
"Just make sure that your mission is fast and clear Lilith. Remember we are at a timetable before the Aeldari warhosts arrive to save this world,"
….
Down Below, Planet Illuminara,
Lilith walks between the wooden houses of what once supposed to be a large village full of Exodites. Said residents of the village are now strewn over the place, their bodies being food for carrion and beats who fled at the oncoming of her cadre alongside the Matriarch Luna. A great stone wall has been erected beside the village that stretches its entire length. It is a great mural that tells of this tribe's history well before its decimation. The stonework has been encrusted with decoration and statuary; it is almost frenzied in the devotion of culture and history just like the ancient Aeldari before they rise to the stars.
"What a waste," murmurs Lilith as she espies Luna sorting through the dead the different Spirit Stones, plucking each and every one of them before placing them over a bloody pouch she has picked up along the way.
Lilith doesn't even want to think what the Matriarch is planning with those souls and besides, its none of her business. She's not an Asuryani who would shriek bloody outrage for such an she looks around towards the broken houses. Beams dangled from the decaying ligaments of stone and rock. The floor is still slippery from blood and fallen beams and tiles. Whoever slaughtered these Exodite villagers are not far. If by any luck, it would be their quarry. The different houses are broken, the windows smashed in, and anything that bore witness to even life had been damaged, yet these are the least of the harms that have been done to the building. The warping effects of Chaors has been pervasive since they entered seeping into reality that tear into the fabric between the two dimensions. An unwholesome foeotr fills the village stone to stone and. It has the similarities to the scent of earth in a forest, a loamy deep smeel though this has little of renewal to it. The promise of life it offers is a lie.
The entourage of Wyches fan out weapons ready. More than anyone, the Aeldari are familiar with the dangers of the warp and none of Lilith's Cadre are underestimating the power it holds.
She hears Luna hissing and Lilith turns his attentiona at the cause which of the Hybrid's source of discomfort. Lilith has seen many barbarous acts of torture, cruelty and hedonism at Commoragh. However even she recoils at the sight facing her today. There in front of her at the very edge of the massacred village stans an effigy of the eight pointed star in matted bronze. It is not the symbol however that brings her to grimace. Rather it is the Exodite Children who have their skins torn off and tied with their own guts to every inch of the Effigy that makes her sick. Their empty faces still bear the horror of their death and she can guess that more than one have been still alive as they are nailed to the Chaos symbol of worship.
"Abominations, traitors, murderers!" this is the first time that Lilith has heard the daughter of the Empress sounds enraged. Without ado, the figure in black synth suit marches forward and swings her sword at the large bloody effigy still dripping with blood.
Whatever it's nature, the sword encrusted with rubies seems to act like an anathema to Chaos. It cuts through the first pillar of support of the effigy as if it is butter. The machine lurches, its loud form falling and the bodies attached to it clashing together. The ground upon the unholy symbol of bronze brass takes the weight of the entire icon of worship. Groans sound from the cursed rock but the su,bold does not fall and the dark energy it permeates pulses faster. Luna strikes to the second support beam draws her weapon and strikes again.
The second support beam is cut neatly through. The icon of worship lurches again. All its weight are pressed sideways. It holds for a moment then with the screaming of metal upon stone, the icon of worship crashes to the ground taking a house along with it. The great cursed foundation cracks and the eerie violet light dims. The symbol seems to emit a pained groan as it pulses one more time before it is still.
As Luna walks away, Lilith gestures to her cadre at the broken icon of worship. "Remove this," she orders the Wyches. "Remove the bodies and make sure all the pieces are destroyed,"
The Wyches move silently as graceful as they are deadly as they each activate a plasma cutter on their wrists while some draw their swords. They slowly begins to cut through the dead and the brass removing the remains of their Exodite kin away from it.
Lilith turns to Luna whose face contains dark shadows under it. "Are you alright?"
"I will be once that thing is torn to pieces," she half says half hisses. "Killing children as a symbol of their power and pride, disgusting!"
"Do you want to leave?"
"No, no I won't. Not at least till I found the one responsible for this barbarism," she takes a deep breathe before walking with Lilith back to the entrance of the village. At least until they are stopped by a shout of one of her wyches.
"MY LADY!" warns Miya, her personal aide at the Cadre. "Something is coming!"
Lilith looks back at the effigy in time to see the first Wych die. A piece of broken brass shoots out from the side she is sawing at, burying deep within her exposed navel running her through and lifting her into the air in a bloody mangled heap.
"WARP ENTITY!" screams another Wych as a pulse of energy booms out of the broken effigy and a foul wind blows in all directions. The houses all around rattle and bangs against themselves and many of the walls crashes down on the floor.
The Wyches bow into the wind, their bare feet scraping on the floor as they are forced backwards by the unnatural gale. Lilith plants her own blade on the ground and kneels behind it. A pulse of energy streams around her forming a small barrier, courtesy of the implanted piece of a halo she took once from an Astartes Champion's corpse.
A crack of thunder emits as the opening a tear come upon in real space. A liquid like reptilian presence pours through. Long streams of it wraps around the broken icon's pieces pulling it to itself as it binds it. It forms thus a tall detestable shape.
A dark green oily scaly skin forms over pieces of the broken effigy and broken bodies. The Warp Entity rises up, and with the power of the broken icon of worship, takes on a living form. Dead bodies of children sinks into its chest. Ropey muscle moves under the shining dark green skin. Where the brass and scales show in its they form fused lumps as it glows brighter and brighter.
Forearms grow, the fingers becoming long, facing backward spikes like bat's wings. A short powerful pair of legs burst from the green scaly mass in a veluge of blood and gore. Huge shoulders swell in seconds, unnatural bones cracking as they grow in pace.
The lizard like daemon lurches forwads. For a head it has an eyeless skull of a dragon left to rot in the forest in colors of green and grey. It walks in a hunch over the knuckles of its elongated fingers though it has no wing membranes to join them. Indeed it appears almost a half-finished dragon. As it moves, the oily scaly skill surface glimmers and dulls becoming leathery and healthy at the same time. The choking miasma of unnaturalness fills the entire place.
"I am Vizigod, of Chaos Undivided," it introduces ina rasping hideous voice that seems to come from the very air. "First of the Champions of the Undivided rule. I cannot be killed. I am immortal to the end of time. I will be there when the final atom of this wretched realm fall under the rule of my masters and Chaos will be truly Undivided. I am here as your executioner, sex slave of the Empress,"
"Don't listen to him!" hisses Luna, her eyes turning blue as she raises her hand. A fork of warp lightning stabs like a flying spear at the daemon's scaly hide.
"Destroy the entity!" says one of her Wyches.
All at once, Lilith's cadre attacks. Bolts hammer like the strength of Zeus into the daemon's unnatural body, the psychic power electrocuting it courtesy of Luna.
The daemon marches forward, its spirit knitting matter into its false body. The temperature plummets as it sucks the energy of the reality around it. Bolts disappear like bubbles exploding in air as the thing tosses its head. A stinking mane that looks akin to a rag of sinewy skin flicks out around its bare skull and the lightning attacks that Luna is bombarding it with turns aside blasting into empty air. It stomps forward, growing larger as it lurches. Now its skin is full of holes and the ribs gleam beneath.
"You cannot harm me, I am immortal. I am the power of all Chaos wrapped into one!" it boasts. It bent its long head and draws in a breath that sucks the Cadre of Lilith towards its razor toothed maw. Then it blows out so hard that they bowl over one another. Mucus blasts from Vizigod's mouth, a mist full of parasites, blood, diseased offal, maggots and all manner of foulness. Where it hits armor, leather rots and more than one Wych screams out as their scantily clad outfits fail to protect them from the acidic attack. On the pavement, where the mucus hits, it slids and gathers taking on the shapes of plaguebearers, courtesy of the power of Nurgle but bulging with muscles and wielding serrated blades with the power of the other Chaos gods.
"FEAR ME FOR I AM MIGHTY!" it screeches out in oy as it rises into its muscular form and spread its wingless hide wide. Vizigod then attacks.
The empty village is quick to be turned into a battlefield. The mist given off by the daemon corrodes the immune system and warps flesh. It cuts through the nostrils, down throats and attacks the lungs. The cadre of Lilith are the strongest of the Wych Cults seen by Commoragh, their beautiful bodies almost immune to every sickness courtesy of them poisoning themselves to be able to have a defense for most poisons. Even then the struggle, their bodies fighting against the miasma but even then the gifts they have are no guarantees of survival. Several of the weaker members of the Cadre already fall choking on their own spit from Vizigod's presence.
It is the veterans of the Cadre that reach it first, blades swinging. Their lack of fear to pain or death confuses the daemon but it pushes them back or snap them up with its massive jaws shearing them in two between scissor teeth. The Wyches are fast but the Daemon is faster. The personal guard of Lilith charges in swinging with their own scythes but they are swept aside by the boneless creature's wings and one of its members got speared in the gut, her screams silenced by the creature throwing her to the air before swallowing her pale body with one gulp.
"Enough! This beast is beyond all of you. I will fight it!" barks Lilith her sword coming out of its scabbard. The Coven leader steps closer. Her sudden approach makes Vizigod to swing its heavy face around to face the Dark Eldar.
"You will die! Your companions will also die. All will fall before Vizigod the Immortal, the Never Ending!"
It bounds forwards, the bones of its useless wings clacking against one another. It knocks the bodyguards of Lilith away crushing one underneath one of its claws even as she hacks savagely at it. The power of the enemy is immense. It's very presence scrabbles Lilith's breathe and throat threatening to shred the edge of her inside flesh and tears pieces away. It roars out a torrent of filth at the Dark Eldar. Lilith simply raises her own chainsword, the energy field and the bile evaporating on the blade's heat.
"You are not the first daemon I have faced," says Lilith simply.
"But I would be the last," says Vizigod.
"I disagree," smirks the Dark Eldar preparing herself in a ready pose.
Vizigod swings its claws like swords, slashing down hard at the Drukharii. Lilith parries one swipe while dodging the other. The serrated power sword of hers blazes purple as it connects with the daemon's skin. Helaena has blessed her sword with her own blood making it almost an anathema to Daemons before her group jumped down here. Though the sword's touch is painful to it, it is enough to fully bring the down The Immortal. The surviving bodyguards of hers advance on it their blades swinging in beautiful arcs with one another. They jump all around it cutting at it many times but the wounds close as Vizigod breaths in and out in a constant repetition and the Wyches are always buffeted by the blows of the thing's wings and every now and then one would be speared through and eaten by the blasted thing. This leaves Lilith alone to battle it.
As Vizigod fights on the wing fingers trail shadow that coalesced into ragged skin. A livid growth of flesh creeps up from the base of its skull armoring it in raw pulsing muscle.
"With every death I am becoming stronger," it boasts once more even with one of Lilith's cadre being munched on while still alive, one of her legs missing. "With every soul I grow stronger. With every flesh, I grow mightier. Soon none will be mightier than I,"
"You talk too much," Lilith simply comments and she strikes.
The serrated power sword swings true. The ozone coiling around it like a snake cuts deep. Vizigod whips back its materializing wing a little too slow, beaten by the flexibility and speed of the Drukharii. With a crackle of power, the sword cleaves off the tip of Vizigod's knuckle finger through the claw. The thing about daemons is, they are so in love with inflicting pain, but they have absolutely low tolerance of it. Vizigod screeches loudly that even a part of the cultural wall of the Exodites tumbels down crushing Dark Eldar and smaller daemons alike. The severed appendage slides up against a pullar and boils away to nothing.
Lilith smirks with savage triumph as she flicks her sword. "I am Lilith Netherborne. Most beautiful and most deadly of my kind. I have slain many of your kind and I shall slay many more and that includes you!"
Roaring horribly Vizigoth strikes down again. Lilith sidesteps letting the claws slide down her serrated blade. She moves quickly raising her spare sword at her left hand and hacks at the side of the creature with all her might. Rotten skin blows out in streams of gore and fluid. When Vizigod tries to heal himself, the wounds remain, such is the power of the Anathema of Death.
"Impossible!" it hisses in denial.
"There is nothing impossible in death, so die!"
Lilith swings her sword round overhead. She strikes again cutting deep into the forearm of the damaged limb . Blood and broken sinew rains down from the large injury and the Daemon roars out in anger and pain.
"Underlings, slaves protect me!" screeches out Vizigod to the mutated plaguebearers who then disengages from fighting the Cadre of Lilith and charges her instead.
"Protect our mistress. Let us aid her!" shouts Miya, dragging herself off the floor while drawing up her sword and eviscerates a plaguebearer with it while filling another with crystal shurikens. Around Lilith and Vizigod the Cadre forms a perimeter throwing back the reinforcements of the Daemon stading alone against the Drukharii. The plaguebearers are slow and powerful while the Wyches are nimble and soft making it a stalemate.
"I cannot be killed I am immortal!" the Daemon cries out.
"So does claim many of your kind. Too bad they are wrong," says Lilith with a grin. "I killed them all,"
Lilith presses her attack battering at the giant daemon with a series of lighting quick strikes that fills the space around her with after images of her. She carves away the tips of three more parts of the Daemon's wings and when the ugly being recoils, she slices deep into the right shoulder. It screams loud enough in pain that it temporarily pauses the fight of everyone.
With a piercing war cry that is as loud as the Daemon's , Lilith slices its shoulder again, her taut muscles straining enough that it shears off the entire right wing. The limb thrashes about on the floor as it dissolves back into the Immaterium and the daemon instantly backs away. It attempts a scream again but a slam of psychic power from Luna which has been gathering enough energy while being ignored at the side steals its voice and sent it whimpering backwards choking on its own throat.
"I-I cannot be-be defeated. I-I am I-immortal!" it coughs out in denial. Mucus, and disased organs twisted and warped ran from its innards unto the floor.
"Then begone daemon!" hisses Luna bending her will to tear open the rift that the Daemon has come through. Purplish light once more fills the ruined village. Rotting faces gather there through the other side eager to join their daemonic overlord but the thin sheet of barrier like a Gellar field holds them back, courtesy of Luna making them howl and gnash their teeth in anger.
Vizigod skitters backward lurching towards the rift. Thousands of shuriken fire hammers against his hide. Wyches dance around it running their weapons into its flesh while all the while Lilith strikes again and gain. The daemon defends itself in a panic no longer able to attack, its remaining wing being batted aside by the Serrated Power sword with every swipe.
Then it stops and then it laughs.
"You…cannot…. Kill….me. I….am…immortal!" it roars ad rears up. A pulse of power upended the attacking Wyches sending them clattering down the ground. Immediately three Wyches are gulped in an instant, their death throes not even heard before dark light flares around the daemon , its body knitting itself, the wounds disappearing, and even its previous wing cut off growing back. It beats both wings again now whole and webbed with bloody flesh. With a mighty roar, the daemon rose up over the battling host and spat balls of searing matter down at them. One Wych fails to run away and she screams as she is bathed in acid, worms popping out of her naked skin eating her alive as she thrashes on the ground.
"Lilith!" yells Luna whose face is straining keeping the Warp portal open and contained. "The Rift! Force the bastard back into the Warp!"
Lilith watches Vizigod swiping down the village its wings wide and buffeting . The long head now raw and bloody snaps another shrieking Wych tearing her in half before swallowing. It snaps at the Wyches down below who immediately takes cover and run as he soars over their heads.
A trumpet call however sounds and without warning Aeldari in runic armor arrives at the scene riding scaly dinosaur-esque lizards. The Exodites have finally arrived to investigate what happened to one of their settlements. It does not take long for them to find out which is the enemy and which is the ally as the giant daemonic dragon lizard fly over their heads oozing pus and guts. Immediately heavy slingers and spear throwers attached with explosives are battering at the daemon with a torrent of weapons and crystalline explosives. The Daemon however only laughs and dives at the Exodites who are forced to scatter and slaying three in a heartbeat.
"I will end it!" says Lilith in a mental promise as her eyes turn for a way to catch the flying behemoth. Immediately she espies a set of crumbling stairs within one of the taller buildings that ends in a broken gallery. Immedaitely she is bounding and leaping, her lithe form faster than a wraith, the cool air kissing her bare skin. The tall structure shakes as she runs to the top, stone pattering on the ground beneath her bare feet. She halts at the edge of the uppermost part.
The daemon folds its wings and turns nose over tail. It makes a full turn again this towards the broken building where Lilith is waiting and standing at.
"You shall perish whore of the Empress!" it screeches out. "Your soul Slaanesh will have great pleasure in raping,"
"Not today I think," replies Lilith as she puts all her strength into her back legs. She waits for Vizigod to come screaming and roaring at her then leaps. She clears twenty feet from a standing start, arms and legs wheeling as she fell towards the demon's back, a perfect acrobatic jump.
Vizigod turns his flayed head around to snap at the Drukharii but she clings on. Grabbing her sword, Lilith turns it downward with both hands before piercing the neck of the dragon daemon making Vizigod screech out in mortal agony even as she leads it towards the direction of the portal. Vizigod screeches as it flies, the wings thrashing. Lilith leans back on her sword making the daemon rear up its head higher to prevent it from seeing the nearing Warp Portal.
"Now Lilith, leap!" shouts Luna whose face is full of sweat from keeping the Portal open this long.
Lilith kicks back off the daemon jumping in a somersault as it crashes, bleeding bodu all over through the tear in space and time. A perfect shoot.
"Close the rift!" Lilith coughs out as she lands unsteadily on bare feet. Luna needs no more encouragement.
A shockwave booms through the village blasting out the remaining houses and bringing down another portion of the ruined cultural wall. The remaining lesser Warp born waver like mirages and disappear their battle cries fading moments later. The shouts of Aeldari in victory sounds out even as others attend to the dead and wounded.
"Everyone silent! This is not over yet," says Luna and she is right. Everyone watches in silent horror as it seems a veil in reality is ripped apart and there looming over them standing tall and proud is a black tower with a mighty fortress. The banner of the Seventeenth legion flies freely atop it.
They have just found the fortress of Lorgar Aurelion.
…..
Omake: Great Crusade
Word has spread far and wide about the planet Venus Sonata. Apparently the Empress is the one who subjugated it bloodlessly. There are rumors however that she gains a disease from being exposed into the Warp air of the world. Of course John this time is the one who runs down to see how his Companion is going through. Already in his mind, he is devising a hundred thousand reasons why she shouldn't participate in the Great Crusade and leave this endeavor to him and their sons who are more equipped for it than her.
He breathes a sigh of relief as he espies her there at the gardens standing as beautiful as ever with her back turned to him. She looks unblemished and he can feel no distress in her mind or emotion. She moves her attention to him and smiles making John smile back as he approaches her. She touches his face gently in the way that he allows only she can do.
"Lately it seems, all the magic is gone, I missed you like forever to the point I could die," she starts in a sing song voice making the Emperor blink as she sings even more lyrics before walking away describing stuff while singing.
"Yep, the warp's twisted her mind alright," Malchador giggles manly beside him making the Emperor scowl at his old friend even as his Companion chirps and sings like a mockingbird for some reason.
…..
Author's Note:
Hello guys so another chapter is done. Already got a plot for our Lorgar fight and Corax's founding. Next chapter will reveal all. Anyway Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New year just in case this is my last chapter for this year 2023. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. As usual please review for your reviews are the song to this writer's heart.