"I require more specific information, such as how to enter his Tomb World. I know this fellow is incredibly wealthy. Although he is merely a Necron Overlord, the riches and collections he possesses exceed those of the Phaerons of most dynasties," Axis demanded.
However, saying that the target was simply in the "fringe regions of the Sautekh Dynasty" was akin to saying nothing at all.
Axis knew what the Sautekh Dynasty was. It was currently ruled by the Phaeron known as Imotekh the Stormlord. This was a massive dynasty controlling over eighty Tomb Worlds and possessing vast territories.
The Stormlord was not a benevolent figure. He was a ruthless commander, one of the few who dared to openly oppose and wage war against the Silent King with considerable success.
Axis suspected that this old scoundrel Zarathusa wasn't just giving him vague directions; he was trying to maneuver Axis into a confrontation with the Sautekh Dynasty, perhaps hoping Imotekh the Stormlord would eliminate Axis for him.
Trust was non-existent in the grim darkness of the Warhammer universe. Blindly believing enemy intelligence was a sure path to self-destruction. Did this old metal skeleton think Axis knew nothing of Necron politics?
"O two powerful beings, I wish to know, why exactly are you searching for that despicable thief?" Zarathusa asked cautiously.
The Sautekh Dynasty was arguably the most powerful Necron dynasty in existence. Trazyn the Infinite, however, belonged to the Nihilakh Dynasty, a fiercely isolationist faction. They existed within a pocket dimension, making their crown world extremely secure.
Before the War in Heaven, the Nihilakh had plundered the wealth of over a thousand civilizations, making them the richest of all dynasties. Although Trazyn the Infinite had technically been exiled from the Nihilakh, he still retained his own Tomb World hidden within a pocket universe, which was exactly why he was so difficult to locate.
"Trazyn stole something of mine. To him, it might be merely a novel addition to his collection, but to me, it is of vital importance," Axis stated.
Zarathusa wore an expression that seemed to say, 'I knew it.' No one sought out Trazyn the Infinite for polite conversation; it was always because the scoundrel had stolen something. Now, Zarathusa felt the injustice of being dragged into the mess simply by association.
"Gentlemen, I can assure you that the last intelligence I received regarding Trazyn the Infinite placed him in the border regions of the Sautekh Dynasty," Zarathusa said with a note of helplessness.
To be fair, if anyone could actually locate that shameful thief's lair, countless Necron Overlords would have personally gone there to destroy the wretch. Trazyn didn't just swindle other races; he cheated his own kind as well. There were plenty of Overlords and Phaerons who gnashed their teeth in hatred at his name, wishing nothing more than to grind his bones to dust.
"From what time period is this intelligence you speak of?" Sanguinius asked calmly.
"Er, naturally, it was received before our Great Sleep. My Tomb World only awakened a little over a year ago," Zarathusa admitted.
Hearing this, Axis's expression turned grim. This mongrel was feeding him intelligence from sixty million years ago?
"Do you have a death wish? You have been asleep for sixty million years, and you bring up news from back then? Are you mocking me?"
In a blur of motion, Axis reached out and ripped the Necron Overlord's head off his metallic shoulders.
"You seem determined to do this the hard way," Axis growled. "I tell you, if you are not honest, I will obliterate you. Your Reanimation Protocols mean nothing to me; I can erase your very existence."
"Wait! I truly told you everything I know! We just woke up," Zarathusa's disembodied head pleaded with a look of grievance. "If it weren't for the appearance of the Tyranids, I would still be in stasis. Do you really think I would have up-to-date intelligence?"
It wasn't his fault these strangers had stormed in demanding information on that despicable thief. He had only shared what he knew.
"Calm yourself, Axis. He likely isn't deceiving us. This Necron dynasty hadn't awakened before the Tyranid invasion. He wouldn't even know that Trazyn the Infinite made an appearance during the 13th Black Crusade," Sanguinius said, shaking his head.
"It seems you are useless then," Axis snorted coldly.
"Wait! Great one, you promised! As long as I gave you information, you wouldn't kill me. You must honor our transaction!" Zarathusa cried out in panic. He could feel that this human named Axis genuinely intended to destroy him.
"Shut up. I promised not to kill you, but I didn't guarantee I'd release you. Your answer was highly unsatisfactory," Axis retorted.
Providing sixty-million-year-old intel and trying to point him toward the most powerful Necron Phaeron in the galaxy? While Axis did not fear Imotekh the Stormlord, he refused to be used as a pawn.
"Wait! I may not know Trazyn's current location, but there is one who definitely knows! Anrakyr the Traveller. He is one of the few Necron Overlords who retained his full sanity after awakening.
"He currently roams the galaxy helping Necron dynasties fight their enemies. In exchange for his aid, he demands a tenth of their army and resources. He has amassed great wealth and troops from various dynasties; he might have intelligence on Trazyn!" Zarathusa blurted out.
He knew if he didn't produce something useful, this being would destroy him. As a Necron Overlord mastering stellar technology, he had no desire to be extinguished so easily.
"So, you have a way to contact him?" Axis asked.
"Certainly, my lord. He responds to all Necron distress signals! I can provide you with a device to mimic the signal. Once Anrakyr receives the signal, he will bring his fleet to assist," Zarathusa explained.
Although Anrakyr the Traveller had helped Zarathusa in the past, he had also taken a tenth of his wealth and army, a "tithe" that Zarathusa still resented. Therefore, letting Anrakyr deal with this terrifying human seemed like a fair trade.
"That sounds more like it. Bring me the device immediately," Axis ordered.
"Of course, powerful one. However, you must leave my dynasty's territory first. I will place a lock on the device. Only after you depart and I confirm my safety will I remotely activate it, allowing you to contact Anrakyr the Traveller," Zarathusa said cautiously.
"Very prudent. Bring the item here," Axis said with a sneer.
Zarathusa breathed a sigh of relief.
He immediately commanded his Canoptek constructs to retrieve his head and reattach it to a spare body. Moments later, the Overlord presented a specialized communication device.
"Here, Lord Axis. This device can reach any Necron Overlord within a few thousand light-years. I have configured it to broadcast the signal of a minor dynasty whose Tomb World has been destroyed. Once you leave my world and I am secure, I will unlock it remotely."
"I hope you make the right choice and try no tricks. Otherwise, you know the consequences." Axis waved his hand, signaling the Blood Angels to return to their ship.
He then departed with Sanguinius. As the human vessel slowly moved away from the Tomb World, Axis contacted Zarathusa again.
Having confirmed that Axis and his terrifying companions were truly gone, the Necron Overlord kept his word and remotely unlocked the device.
Axis examined the object. He confirmed it was indeed a communicator and not a stellar bomb or trap. Satisfied, he dissipated the layer of Ki he had wrapped around it. Had the Necron Overlord attempted any treachery, Axis would have used Instant Transmission to return immediately and fired an energy blast to vaporize both the Overlord and his Tomb World.
Soon, Axis activated the device, sending a distress signal across thousands of light-years, and waited for a response.
According to Zarathusa, Anrakyr had left this region less than a year ago. Theoretically, he shouldn't be more than a hundred light-years away and would easily receive the signal.
"Axis, what if this Necron Overlord named Anrakyr doesn't know the news about Trazyn the Infinite either?" Kasha asked.
"What else can we do? We keep asking other Necrons," Axis shrugged.
"Perhaps there is another way," 40k Kasha suggested. "We could make Trazyn the Infinite come to us."
"Oh?" Axis's eyes lit up with interest.
"We absolutely possess collectibles here that would interest him. The kind that would draw him right to us," the 40k Kasha said, revealing a cunning smile.