Saying prayers, the soldiers stood their ground to the last, dying in the fire of a furious war. They were completely defenseless against the demons tearing at their souls, and the shells tore their bodies apart with bloody flashes, because the artillery didn't care who you were, how accurately you shot, or what color your blood was. For the goddess of war, you were just meat, and your survival was an unfortunate accident.
Even though I said Gareth had won the counter-battery fight completely, it wasn't true. I lied to the men so they wouldn't be so scared of going to their deaths. Even standing there in the trench, when the first brigades went into battle, I already knew that none of us would return home. It was a one-way trip.
The enemy's assault troops were moving into battle in waves, the battles were becoming more and more fierce. Among my fighters, almost all were already wounded. But even standing knee-deep in blood among corpses, with a piece of shrapnel in their belly and a bandaged head, they continued to stand, because this was their last day. Let the ancestors rejoice that their descendants died with their heads held high, not fearing the enemy.
I sat at the bottom of the trench, explosions were heard over and over again, and more and more earth was flying into my hair. Slowly and carefully, with some difficulty due to one hand, I opened the cylinder of my revolver, squeezed it between my legs and began inserting cartridges two fingers in diameter. Yes, there was a lot of gunpowder in there, no wonder my hand hurt so much.
The ground shook in the meantime. Right now, the Knight-Traitor was breaking through. He would easily overcome the last echelon, after which the only obstacle in front of Gareth would be the staff officers and the command headquarters. Considering their numbers… it was nothing, they would be crushed and destroyed, or perhaps captured for subsequent dark rituals. Surely the traitors would want to take it out on the generals.
But the Knight-Traitor was not the main enemy. He was merely a tool, fallen into the hands of a far more powerful enemy. And that enemy was already moving straight towards us. I felt it with every fiber of my being. Death was coming for me, and there was only one way to avoid it.
- WITCH!!! FIRE!!! FIRE FROM EVERYTHING THAT IS!!! - one of the soldiers shouted and the roar of all kinds of weapons deafened me, which is why the last cartridge fit into the drum only on the second try.
Across the battlefield, watching every soul from the warp, the witch calmly walked, swaying her hips and clutching two cursed daggers with jagged blades. She knew that we did not have enough heavy weapons left to harm her. Besides, the warp currents distorted the universe and most of the shots hit the milk.
She was completely naked and her entire pale body was moaning in ecstasy because of the thousands of scars she had disfigured herself with in the process of summoning demons. Completely possessed by sin, she was drilling through all barriers into the back of my head lying on the wall of the trench. Her master had given an order for which the witch was ready to do everything and die. After all, there is nothing worse than falling into disfavor with her master.
Slowly I rose to my feet, then climbed the embankment and looked out of the trench. Immediately my eyes met the evil gaze of the witch, who froze and turned her head to carefully study my soul.
"You are really the champion of Tzeentch," she exclaimed, her voice reflecting incomprehension. "How could such a weakling be chosen by the Dark God? What did you do to deserve his attention? Well… never mind…"
The warp vortexes swirled across the sky and once again fire began to materialize in the sky. Streams of psychic flame poured down upon us and one by one the soldiers closed their eyes in resignation.
"That's it," whispered the young man, who suddenly saw something different in death… a reward, a release, and long-awaited peace. "Finally, this madness has come to an end…"
But suddenly a shadow hung over him and in the scorching flame, everyone perished, but not him. The soldier still could not understand how exactly he survived, just as he could not open his eyes because of the burnt eyelids. But through force and pain, he was still able to see Mordred, who covered him with his back.
My entire back was one big smoking burn. The wound was extremely serious and I didn't die instantly only thanks to my psi-power. However, even with it I couldn't fight the witch. My psyker abilities remained at a primitive level and without a teacher I didn't go far in mastering such complex skills.
Having cast one last glance at the burnt-out trench, where the luckiest ones still flickered with life, I climbed out of it and stood up to my full height. A malicious smile spread across the witch's face; she was glad that her fight would last longer than expected. After all, all the pain received in the process and every sacrifice given would be another step on the path to perfection. She would outshine everyone in this world; none of the aristocrats who laughed at her peasant back would be able to even raise their hands anymore. And the greater their suffering, the more strength she would receive.
And again the psychic flame played, this time preparing to become a stream, falling only on me. I was not afraid of death and was ready to give my life right here and now. However, giving up without using the last trump card would be stupid. Besides, even if my fate was already predetermined, my actions could change the lives of others.
- TZI-I-I-I-I-I-INCH!!! - I screamed at the top of my lungs, calling out to my master and kneeling before the master who could give me strength and victory.
My entire cry was full of both rage and humble acknowledgment of his superiority. I did not demand or ask, in a sense I even begged, just to have his power. I needed victory, no, I needed only the means to achieve it, the opportunity to take it myself. And Tzeentch did not care for the world, for the witch and She Who Thirsts, but he was flattered to see another servant bend the knee to him and recognize his place.
And right in the middle of the purple riot of the sky, a rainbow flash was heard and a small blue rift opened up. It was small and its power was far less than the power of the invading Slaanesh. However, the Universal Manipulator did not need anything more, it only needed a fulcrum and a lever to turn the entire galaxy. The lever was already there, which meant that it only needed to create a support for it.
— CHANGE IS THE ESSENCE OF PERFECTION!!! CONSTANT CHANGES ON THE WAY TO THE TOP!!! THAT IS WHY YOUR MISTRESS WILL BE MY SERVANT FOREVER!!! AND SHE WILL NEVER BECOME EQUAL TO US!!! — the Dark God laughed out loud, causing incredible anger to appear on the witch's face.
And straight from the sky to the ground, only one demon swooped down, the smallest and at first glance not posing any threat. Weak and always asking questions, not knowing the reason for its existence, not even a name. And on its wings it brought hundreds of weak warp currents that created resonance and instead of stopping the flow of flame, began to change its direction.
"I know everything, I know everything, including how you will die!" a ringing chirp was heard, after which the bird disappeared.
However, having disappeared from the physical world, she began to look for a place in my soul. I did not refuse her, because I needed help again. And although I expected help in the form of at least an army of demons or at least one very strong one, but apparently I will have to deal with what I had.
"Something's wrong, a strange taste of the warp," the bird immediately began to chirp, while its mark appeared on my back, after which a crystal shell began to replace the burnt skin.
But not completely, as it was that time. The bird's powers were much weaker, so the shell resembled more of a film. And for the most part, this film was needed not for protection, but for regeneration.
"No, something is definitely wrong with this whole thing," the bird continued to chirp discontentedly. "Where are we? What planet is this? Who is fighting? What year is it on the Terran calendar? Who are you?"
- This time Mordred, four thousand and five on the Alban calendar, I don't know what year it is on the Terran calendar. Humanity is fighting against the Ever-Hungry Bitch and her demons, summoned by traitors to the human race. We are south of Camelot. Now give me one answer, how will we win? You know everything.
- All right, all right. And we will win beautifully, even if we die without killing the witch. After all, victory is forged by ideas, and the one whose idea is stronger wins.
- Who told you this nonsense?
- I don't remember, I heard it somewhere in the warp, while I was flying from one crystal tree to another. But I'll find out about this too! I'll find out everything and then I'll tell you!
— HOW DO YOU DO THIS? — the witch roared in the meantime and rushed into battle, until her warp currents stopped obeying her, hitting everything but me.
— Everything in the world comes down to strength. Strength lies in the details and their understanding. However, if you are weak and cannot see as many details and influence them as your opponent… there is still a way out. Create chaos in which your enemy will also stop understanding anything, just like you, — the bird continued to chirp cheerfully, confusing all the warp flows and not allowing to use its power. — You are so old, you have learned a lot, and I… I am much younger than you and still managed to equalize the odds. Unpleasant, huh?
- DIE!!! - she screamed and, breaking the laws of physics, made a crushing jump, leaving a crater behind her.
Her cursed daggers contorted into a thousand grimaces of pain, representing the torment and suffering of her fallen victims. Her powers were more than enough to hold the souls of mere mortals and pass them into the arms of thirsty daemons. But could she hold my soul, which had merged with a daemon and had the support of Tzeentch? No, she could not under any circumstances. And she understood this, enraging herself even more.
I jumped back, raising my revolver and firing. The fiery buckshot struck the witch's chest, but before the hot metal touched her body, her skin was covered in chitinous plates. The witch had already received her mistress's gifts and therefore did not need any armor. Although no, it was not a matter of covering, but of illusions.
"It's scary," the witch hissed, removing the illusions and showing all the vileness of her true image, which was incredibly far from perfect.
Instead of answering, I fired again, this time aiming for the head. But, having covered herself with daggers, the witch again remained unharmed.
- There are two left...
Having quickly reduced the recoil and using all of Lex's experience, I almost immediately after the second shot, hitting the creature's legs. The shin was covered in chitinous plates, while the thighs were covered in strong scales, reminiscent of dragon armor, but in those places where the limb should have bent, there were gaps. And the fiery buckshot was able to let the creature's blood.
Roaring in pain, the witch immediately rushed forward while I retreated back, trying to aim. Now she moved in zigzags and, thanks to her monstrous speed and maneuverability, easily escaped my muzzle.
- DIE!!! - the witch screamed again and jumped again.
But at that very moment I fell backwards into the trench, letting it pass over me and shooting straight up into its belly. And the shot hit me point-blank in the lower back, where there was also scale, less durable than the chitin plates. But even at point-blank range the buckshot could not penetrate this armor, and the flame set my tunic on fire.
Having fallen into the mud, I immediately opened the drum with my teeth, after which the materialized bird deftly snatched the cartridge from my pocket with its claws and helped me load it. I immediately slammed the drum shut and turned around, because the witch had immediately moved into the trench behind me like a whirlwind. However, instead of attacking me, she pierced with daggers a soldier who had crawled out from under the burnt body of a comrade soldier.
He didn't have time to react, and he lost his weapon. One dagger pierced his liver, and the second entered his femoral artery, while the witch herself sank her fangs right into his neck. She drank both his blood and his soul to the bottom, enjoying the dish. And the wound on his leg quickly healed.
The soldier was still conscious, gasping for air, the magic of the blades kept him from losing consciousness, prolonging his torment. And without thinking twice, I fired, hitting both the soldier and the witch in the face with buckshot. This time she didn't have time to cover herself with her blades.
"Ha, I thought you would flinch and not be able to finish off your comrade," the witch said with a poisonous grin, her head thrown back at the moment of the shot and slowly returning back.
The buckshot did not penetrate the skull, because there were already strong growths around it. Metal particles fell out of the bloody and burning eye sockets, while the witch's flesh quickly regenerated. Pain and suffering on the battlefield were her food and strength, and there was no sign of an excess of this fuel in the near future.
"You lose," the witch, once again turning into a blur, rushed towards me, delivering two blows.
I managed to notice the first blow and covered myself with my hand. The dagger pierced my elbow and stopped right in front of my neck. The second one easily hit my liver, starting to drink blood. The witch herself had already opened her mouth and her long forked tongue touched my face. The heat of her body was getting closer and the desire to possess was seeping into my soul along with the fear of death.
"Stupid greedy bitch," I chuckled, after which a crystal hand ending in a claw materialized in place of my left hand.
Too late, the witch realized that she had screwed up and underestimated her opponent. I took two non-lethal blows to land one. The sharp crystal of Tzeentch possessed both a powerful psychic aura and unprecedented sharpness and durability. And I struck it at the lower jaw on the left, where there was neither armor nor scales. The claw easily shattered the bones and penetrated deeper, after which it tore the brain.
And with a jerk I pulled out my claw, after which I pushed the corpse away from me and pulled the daggers out of my hand and liver. Blood immediately gushed from my side. The pool of blood grew rapidly and I sank to the ground. My liver was pierced, but not torn, the film had already covered the organ, but the pain was colossal and I had lost a lot of blood. It was getting dark in my eyes, my blood pressure dropped. I needed rest and preferably a doctor, maybe the demon could help…
"I'm trying, I'm trying," repeated the bird, who knew a lot, but had little idea how the human body worked.
"Everything is fine, don't worry," I replied, feeling how an incredible calm suddenly enveloped my soul.
- No, it's not okay, you might die.
- For the last time.
- Not a fact! Something is wrong, maybe Tzeentch wasn't lying! Don't lose consciousness.
I just grinned and materialized a crystal mug in my hand.
"I'll have to get an endless cigarette too," I said with a grin, not taking the bird's words seriously.
- Here! - a cry suddenly rang out and a squad of soldiers rushed into the trench.
I was quickly surrounded, but not to be put on a stretcher and carried to the rear. The soldiers whose faces I had recently looked into and whom I had led into battle had their guns on me. Their eyes were filled with incredible hatred, mixed with fear. And behind them stood the young man I had saved. He told me everything he had seen.
"What are you standing there for?" I asked, tired of holding the crystal mug and placing it on my knee. "Do what you have to do."
- Why did you betray us? Why did you submit to the enemy? - the platoon commander asked, not understanding, looking into the darkest abyss, where the heroes you believe in become the main enemy. - Did you really want power so much that you sold your soul and became a sorcerer?
At that moment, there was a roar and a cry of victory. Gareth had finally defeated the Traitor Knight, even though he had managed to break through. The battle was won, which meant I had done everything right.
- I didn't betray anyone and I didn't become a magician, I was. From the very first day. Shoot already, I'm tired and want to rest. What are you hesitating about?
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