Standing before the Chaos Warmaster Abaddon was the long-missing Slaanesh Killer, Sidonis.
"Long time no see, Chaos Warmaster Abaddon."
"You dare show yourself before me, dog of the False Emperor! I'll take your head myself." Abaddon snorted. His massive lightning claw spread open, and the daemon sword Drach'nyen gleamed coldly.
In the past, he hadn't known the other's identity, thinking him some new Greater Daemon of Slaanesh. But after witnessing an Emperor Avatar and the Imperium publicizing the method to create them, Abaddon had guessed: this Slaanesh-powered construct was something made by the Emperor and Slaanesh.
Therefore, a dog of the False Emperor. All of it was the False Emperor's scheme. That damned old salted-meat would die by his hand!
Abaddon had no interest in parley. He swung Drach'nyen down in a lethal arc.
Sidonis shook his head helplessly and drew his purple rune-sword to catch the blow.
Their power seemed evenly matched—at first glance.
"Abaddon, I didn't come here to fight you."
"Silence, dog of the False Emperor. I want only your head to steep in wine." Abaddon snarled, his lightning claw lunging for the assassin's torso.
Metal screeched. The claw, forged by Vashtorr with his own hands, which could rend nearly all metals in realspace, was stopped cold by Sidonis's armor.
"Your weapon is impressive—this claw can tear almost any metal in the material universe. Mine is the exception." Sidonis snorted. Violet light flared as Chaos energy poured forth in a shockwave that hurled Abaddon away.
"Didn't expect you to be this strong! Good—worthy prey." Abaddon tightened his grip on Drach'nyen, baring a bloodthirsty grin.
"I'll say it again: I'm not here to fight. If you insist, I'll walk away now. You can't stop me—you know this—as easily as I slipped into your base," Sidonis said.
But Abaddon had no interest in talking. With a roar, he charged, intent on killing Sidonis.
Seeing this, Sidonis sighed. His rune-sword twirled a flower of steel. If you want a beating, I'll oblige—you asked for it.
As a specially engineered apex assassin-beast, further empowered by a portion of Slaanesh's divinity, he ranked only below a few within his master's team. None of the Emperor Avatars could match him.
Drach'nyen cleaved forth, wrapped in baleful warp-energies, gouging a black rent as if to tear reality itself. Abaddon laughed madly, bringing the blade down—he would cleave Sidonis in two!
But Sidonis merely tilted his body, slipping past the strike. His purple rune-sword flicked with casual precision, its edge tapping Drach'nyen's weak point.
Abaddon's full-force blow was knocked aside. Before he could recover, Sidonis ghosted in close, driving a knee hard into his chestplate.
Bang!
Abaddon's massive Terminator armor groaned. He staggered back, blood rising in his throat.
Before he could steady himself, the purple rune-sword struck like a viper—so fast it became a violet afterimage.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Abaddon parried in haste. Drach'nyen and the rune-sword clashed, sparks fountaining.
Truth be told, Abaddon's weapon was superior—the daemonblade's might was formidable. But in raw capability—even augmented repeatedly by Vashtorr—he still couldn't beat the Slaanesh Killer.
Each exchange sent pain up his arms—Sidonis's strength exceeded expectations. Every blow numbed his hands.
The Slaanesh divinity Sidonis wielded overwhelmed him. Once Abaddon had been the Chosen of the Four; now only three gods left their blessings upon him—Slaanesh had withdrawn. There's a fundamental difference between being chosen by four and by three. Even with Vashtorr's enhancements, his power had declined.
Within a few passes he was reduced to pure defense—and then a sweeping leg dumped him on his back.
"That all you've got? Get up—I want to see the Warmaster's prowess," Sidonis taunted. He spun and cut a perfect arc toward Abaddon's throat.
Abaddon roared, raising his lightning claw to block. But Sidonis's blade-work changed mid-flow, curving past the guard and chopping into his pauldron.
The Warmaster grunted. His Terminator shoulder guard split open, blood seeping out.
"Damn it—how?" Abaddon raged, his claw snapping open to seize Sidonis's skull.
But Sidonis was faster, fading back like a phantom and stabbing at his wrist.
Shhk!
The blade punched through the joint of the lightning claw. Abaddon's attack unraveled. Stunned, he watched his weapon fail as Sidonis swept in and whip-kicked his knee.
Crack!
The Terminator joint twisted under the impact. Abaddon dropped to one knee, jamming Drach'nyen into the floor to steady himself.
He glared up to find Sidonis's tip at his throat, the edge resting on his artery.
"Now—shall we talk? Or do you need another beating to learn manners?" Sidonis looked down, violet eyes amused.
Abaddon ground his teeth, but the truth was plain—he'd lost, and decisively. This damned Slaanesh Killer was terrifying. After so many augmentations, and still no match?
And with all this noise, surely the Black Legionnaires outside had noticed—yet none of his daemon allies or Daemon Princes had burst in.
"Wondering why no one's come to save you?" Sidonis asked playfully.
"Dog of the False Emperor—what trickery is this? What vile means have you used?" Abaddon demanded.
Sidonis didn't answer. He glanced to the side. Golden light flared, and a blood-and-gold giant over fifty meters tall appeared before Abaddon.
"First meeting, Chaos Warmaster. I am Tartarus, of the Absolutian warrior—the Ultimate Lifeform Tartarus," the giant introduced himself.
"Another false Emperor's dog," Abaddon said darkly.
He tried to rise, but Sidonis's sword pressed at his throat and his free arm pinned him. He couldn't resist.
Tartarus had brought the Slaanesh Killer into Abaddon's hidden chamber and sealed the surrounding space. No warp power or sound could leak out.
"What do you want?" Abaddon asked, drawing a steadying breath.
A man under eaves must bow—his life was in their hands; he had no power to resist.
"You have two choices, Abaddon. One: swear fealty to our great master from today forward. It would be your honor—you'll receive supreme rewards. But you must obey all the master's commands," Tartarus said.
To ensure success, Rhodes intended to neutralize Abaddon early. Not even the Emperor or Guilliman knew of this.
"I will kneel to no one. Not even the Four Chaos Gods," Abaddon declared.
He was a proud Warmaster—leader of thirteen Black Crusades, victor countless times over the Imperium, slayer of Sigismund the Swordmaster.
"Told you—he'll never accept. Let's go with Plan B," Sidonis shrugged.
"A pity. You passed up your only chance to become—never mind. Absolute annihilation."
Tartarus snorted. Golden lightning exploded from his palm, shredding Abaddon's Terminator armor and maiming the Warmaster in an instant.
Sidonis and Tartarus exchanged a nod. A golden portal opened again, and Barbarue stepped out.
"This is your target. Take his form. The rest of the mission is yours," Tartarus said.
"Leave it to me. From today, I am Abaddon."