I lay under the rubble of the building and tried to breathe as little as possible. The war continued and expanded, out of nowhere the Chaos Space Marines attacked the Imperial fleet. The blow was unexpected and extremely painful, but the Imperial forces quickly recovered and gave a serious rebuff. Mologost was a captain in the past and knew very well what a space battle was.
As if in a game of chess, the giant ships fired salvos, sending missiles on a long journey. The distances were monstrous, everything happened completely differently from how they show in the movies. Sometimes hours could pass between the shot and the impact. No one was going to bring things to boarding either, because the space marines could be shot, and Mologost was afraid to engage in close combat with the Chaos fleet, understanding that it was dangerous to play such games with the space marines.
Therefore, losses occurred only at the very beginning, and now both fleets exchanged blows, testing the strength of the void shields and hulls of the ships. And the winner in the space battle will most likely become the winner as a whole, because everything depended on it.
Detrius was able to breathe a little easier at that moment, hid and shook with fear, realizing that stronger players had appeared in the party. It was necessary to let them wear each other out and somehow not die in the process. After all, the followers of Nurgle hated both the followers of Tzeentch and the Imperials equally. Moreover, I was almost certain that one of the reasons for the appearance of the plague forces was the cult of Tzeentch. Nurgle could not allow Tzeentch to get another trump card in his hand.
What was the trump card? I didn't know, and I didn't really want to know. But there was no doubt that everything that was happening was centered around Mologost's secret plan and a conspiracy with the xenos. They had definitely found some dangerous junk or uber-weapon, for which everyone would now turn Drakernor into burning ruins. And after the barrage of spaceships fell on the surface of the cities, there was no need to doubt - the combined firepower was enough to destroy a dozen such worlds.
"What have I gotten myself into…" I sighed heavily, regretting that I hadn't gone deaf, because the wailing of the dying frightened me.
I also wished I had lost my sense of smell, for the stench tore at my nostrils and literally filled me with despair. Only the gifts of Tzeentch saved me, enhancing my psychic abilities and at the same time destroying all conspiracy. All Imperial forces were now searching for that rogue psyker and cultist who, although he fought against the followers of Nurgle, remained a sworn enemy of humanity.
And so it seemed like I got the power, but in fact I found myself between a rock and a hard place. The whole world became my enemy and I will no longer have any allies. Even with the gifts of Tzeentch, I myself will die soon, because there is no way to get out of this ass. Detrius, Mologost, the Chaos Space Marines, the Planetary Defense Forces, the xenos - one of them will definitely kill me, the only question is who exactly.
"Damn it… maybe…" I hugged the stubb shotgun I'd picked up from the corpse, spitting fiery lead.
It was a very formidable weapon, leaving no chance even to an enemy in armor. Unless of course the armor is power, like the Space Marines. These guys could withstand tank shots, although every tank is different, the Imperium's arsenal has heavy equipment capable of destroying even more formidable targets. True, the planetary defense forces usually did not have it, which caused huge difficulties in destroying, including warp creatures.
The roar of jet engines was heard, and then the temperature in the city increased several times. Then explosions began to sound. The city was literally burned, throwing everything that could explode and burn from planes. Concrete cracked, asphalt melted and infected flesh dissolved, emitting a foul gas that could sometimes corrode even gas masks. The defenders of Drakernor suffered terrible losses, but continued to fight despite everything, forgetting even old feuds.
Everyone wanted to survive.
"No, that's not the way out, not like that," I said, removing the barrel from my chin and began to slowly climb out.
I needed to somehow escape, find a ship and fly away. Yes, I would hardly be able to slip between two fleets and air defense, but it would be better to die trying. If I shoot myself in the temple every time, what will I learn? Professional giving up and the maximum level of apathetic existence? No way, I will not simplify everything for others. If they want to kill me, let them strain themselves and do it.
"Very pompous thoughts, I was really inspired by them," a voice sounded in my head. "Ha-ha, just kidding, I don't care. I have a point."
It might seem that such familiar communication of a particle of Tzeentch was strange and illogical. However, the key word is "seemed". Tzeentch was literally a god, watching over the whole world at once and adapting to his servants.
For some, he appeared in the mask of a mysterious and extremely intelligent being, ready to help with research. For others, he chose the role of a cunning schemer. Still others were supposed to see a majestic and proud god, capable of destroying the soul of any mortal with one word. However, it all came down to the fact that the mask was chosen in such a way as to get what was desired.
For me, he chose the simplest and most understandable mask, not too complicated with words unknown to me, straightforward, sometimes playful and comical. In this way, he clearly wanted...
- So that you would accept me as a friend and it would be easier for you to foist another profitable offer on me. Yes, yes, yes, you are very smart and I am also saying this to raise your dead self-esteem, - the voice continued, showing a little sincerity to confuse my brains. - Let's come to an agreement.
- What? - I said and almost hit my forehead on the debris I was lying under, because I tried to get up out of surprise. - What are we going to negotiate about? I'm about to die, a bomb will fly in or a detachment of guards will burn me, maybe another army of zombies has already appeared under me.
- I gave you gifts, time to get used to them. I will help you with this.
- Will I still have them after rebirth?
- Mmm... perhaps...
- That is, no. So I didn't see such gifts in a coffin.
- But if you help me, I will give you something unimaginable...
- What?
- Whatever you want.
- Just anything I want?
- Within reason.
— Guarantees?
— Am I an electronics store to give you guarantees? And think about it, it is in my interests that you are satisfied. That way you will more easily agree to a new deal, and then to the next one. Like all my followers, you must believe that everything is under your control and that everything is in your interests. So don't worry, we will come to an agreement and everything will suit you.
- You're trying to screw me, even when you openly tell me about it. I don't believe a word you say, but I'll listen out of curiosity. Come on, get out the piano, why are you destroying millions here?
"Why are they destroying millions?" the voice corrected me sarcastically, making it clear that everything that was happening was being done according to a pre-written script. "Even the followers of Nurgle are playing into my hands, even if they think otherwise."
— Get to the point.
- Your task is to help me and complete the task. The rest is not your mortal mind's business. The hint is clear.
- This is not a hint, you said it straight out.
- Exactly, now shut up and listen. Right now, in the western part of the city, they are trying to summon an army of demons. They have enough corpses, and enough power. So you destroy the breeding ground of rot.
I silently moved the barrel to his chin.
- Wait! It's not as difficult as it seems!
- There's at least a platoon of space marines there. And I won't even scratch one of them.
"My gifts are much stronger than you think. Start using them, let the warp take control of you, and things will get easier. Just don't drift too far, become a conduit for the power, not a vessel for it."
— What's the catch?
- That your nervous system will be so worn out that you'll die after prolonged use. But you won't survive anyway, so...
- So I will die with maximum benefit for you.
- And for myself.
The voice faded and left me in complete silence. Common sense and instinct told me that Tzeentch clearly wanted to have me. It was obvious and perfectly clear, as was the fact that it was better never to get involved with such creatures and not to make any deals, contracts, agreements. The only ones worse than them are bankers with their murky interest calculation schemes.
However, the temptation was too strong. Tzeentch really interested me, because I had more than enough desires, both secret and obvious. I could ask him to transfer me into the body of an ordinary and normal person, so that I could live a good and calm life. This is also worth a lot, but many do not appreciate it and do not understand that everything could have been much worse. Unfortunately, I understood, although I will not dissemble, that my other desires were much more prosaic and shameful, like most people.
So, spitting on everything, I crawled out from under the rubble and decided to die trying to fulfill Tzeentch's task. Besides, I became very interested in what all this was for. So many people were dying right now, and how many more will die? Without exaggeration, billions will be sacrificed, and maybe the entire population of Draekernor. This is a huge number, and therefore the goal must be great. And I wanted to look at this greatness a little, touch it, or at least chuckle in disappointment, realizing that everything was started just for the sake of an uber-gun.
So I began to make my way through the fetid city, hiding among the ruins and trying to avoid patrols. In this I used my new abilities, looking into the warp. I could see other people's emotions and auras, but my own soul frightened me. Every time I used the power, someone looked back at me. In addition, part of my own soul did not obey me, as well as part of the aura, as if Tzeentch gave it to someone under control or maybe directed the flows of the warp himself, preparing my body and soul to become a vessel for a dangerous daemon.
I didn't know what was going on and could only hope that it would end badly, and not too badly. So, after another detour, I reached the western part of the city. They tried to blockade it, isolate it and cleanse it, but the chaos struck back every now and then, disrupting the formations of the superior forces of the Imperial Guard and the planetary defense. The Space Marines themselves were strong as a fighting unit, but their knowledge and experience were much more dangerous, making them excellent commanders. And this difference was very noticeable, especially if you look at the loss ratio.
"Oh God… I'm going to puke…" I said, trying not to look at what the corpses' bodies were becoming.
I have never been squeamish, but this breeding ground for plague, stinking flesh and the unique aroma of a bouquet of unseen bacteria made my insides crawl out both literally and metaphorically. Here I began to be surrounded by small and not so small creatures, or rather demons.
Sickly in appearance, disgusting and vile, their skin burned with the feverish heat of simultaneously flowing diseases. Foulness flowed from every crack and wound, the stench was unbearable, but surprisingly they… they looked joyful. Joy literally oozed out of them, they themselves seemed absolutely satisfied with their own lot, as if despair and resignation had driven them so mad that they believed that what was happening to them was wonderful.
I felt how the psychic energy began to be torn out of me. Emotions immediately came to the fore, causing me to feel a variety of things. However, the most dominant among them were anger and a thirst for violence. It was as if I had been pumped with liters of testosterone and adrenaline. Fear seemed to have disappeared and I only wanted to tear the enemy apart, even with my bare hands. Because of this, even the instinct for self-preservation was cut off and I even forgot about the shotgun.
But as soon as I took a step towards the enemy, the emotions spilled out and in a moment reached their peak. Everything around was instantly engulfed in flames, and not an ordinary one, but one that played with different colors. It was incredibly strong and seemed to destroy the souls themselves. This fire dealt with demons much better.
Immediately after that, the recoil hit me. Because of such a flash, the contrast became obvious, incredible rage and the desire to defeat the enemy began to be replaced by opposite emotions. Or rather, everything was returning to normal, but because of the sharp jump against their background, even my usual calm seemed like some kind of melancholic melancholy. And it became clear that because of such tricks, I definitely wouldn't last long, the cuckoo would go first.
"Get used to it," the voice advised. "Vivid emotions are the basis of your witchcraft power for now. I will usually evoke anger in you, because it is the easiest to work with in this situation."
It was also worth clarifying that Tzeentchian sorcery and psyker skills were slightly different things. They were essentially the same, but they needed to be separated. Sorcery was considered an absolute heresy and was to be destroyed in any form, while psykers could serve the Imperium.
It was also obvious that Tzeentch understood the manipulation of the warp far more than anyone else, and so his followers, the average sorcerer, were usually stronger and more dangerous than the average psyker. On the other hand, psykers were far less likely to lose control and cross forbidden lines. Although there were always exceptions.
Somehow I pushed on, picking my way through the viper's nests and wondering how I had managed to remain hidden for so long. The gifts of Tzeentch must have helped, though the Space Marines were nowhere to be found. It soon became clear why.
In the western part, in its center, a horrific ritual was being carried out. Hidden under the ruins of the sewers, protected by the living rotten flesh absorbed into the rubble, the followers of Nurgle prepared to call more daemons into this world and perhaps one of the higher ones. They needed much more strength, because the battle with Mologost was exhausting them.
"Freeze!" a voice suddenly exclaimed and I was literally paralyzed, even my thoughts almost stopped, and my breathing stopped dead.
I remained standing among the rubble, looking at the tunnel in the asphalt leading to the sewers. Suddenly, a squad of Space Marines ran past me, followed by zombies of Nurgle and a bunch of other creatures unknown to me. They ran straight into the tunnel and were so engrossed in something that they did not notice me. This seemed impossible to me, when suddenly one of the Space Marines turned around and stopped. He was looking straight in my direction and the visors of his helmet should have clearly noticed me.
And then he raised his bolter, immediately opening fire. At that moment, I had already said goodbye to life. But as it turned out, the space marine was not shooting at me at all. The bolters hit a target much higher than me, and a second later it became clear that their attention was drawn to an enemy of a completely different level. Just as Tzeentch ordered me to freeze not because of this patrol.
A daemon, literally hovering, flashed like an elusive shadow. Its body was covered in terrible symbols and seals. Or rather, not its body, but a vessel that became a receptacle for a dangerous creature from the warp. This creature not only withstood a bolter hit and dodged subsequent shots from well-aimed space marines, it rushed to attack them and a second later it became clear who was hunting whom here.
I didn't even have time to really see anything, as the Space Marines were left without heads. The Daemon easily cut through the power armor and destroyed everyone. It seemed to me that the pinnacle of power was precisely the Astartes, but now... this break in the template caused shock and fear.
"Whose side is he on?" flashed through my mind as my body remained paralyzed.
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