The Overmind had never personally experienced the full extent of Magnus the Red's power during the M30 era, but he could confidently say that the entity currently within the cocoon was capable of going toe-to-toe with him.
As for who would emerge victorious, that remained to be seen.
"Modification near perfection," Abathur remarked, unable to restrain a rare note of praise. "Potential exceeds my initial projections."
Perhaps the ancient Aeldari genes within the Succubus had been fully awakened, or perhaps Abathur's evolutionary surgery had achieved a miraculous synergy. Whatever the reason, the psychic potential displayed by this Succubus surpassed even Abathur's wildest imagination.
As the psychic fluctuations grew increasingly rapid and violent, both the Dark Aeldari and the Imperial forces accelerated their assault. Their ranks were thinning by the second, yet the Swarm seemed truly inexhaustible.
Still, the Dark Aeldari believed their tactical assessment was correct. An Incubus, having just cleaved through a Roach, looked around and grunted, "The enemy's elites must all be gathered here."
"Likely so. They're getting bigger by the minute. That five-story-tall monstrosity just now—if it weren't for the air support, we would have been flattened."
"These bugs are more tenacious than anticipated. But look to the void; the Mon-keigh fleet is engaged with the bioships. This is our chance! Move! Reach the source of that psychic energy—it must be the enemy commander!!!"
The piles of corpses around the battlefield grew higher, and the Dark Aeldari's losses were significant. Had these not been elite strike forces, they would have been annihilated long ago.
"The Wyches have already surged ahead!"
"Those vixens are faster than anyone!"
The Wyches reached their objective ahead of the Incubi, coming within direct visual range of the cocoon. Through its translucent outer membrane, they could vaguely discern a humanoid figure. Judging by the skeletal structure and physical curves, it was clearly female.
"My sister... she has been changed!"
"Such a powerful psychic eruption—how has she not been devoured by She Who Thirsts?"
The Wyches were stunned. For an Aeldari to wield psychic power without the protection of a Soul Stone usually meant instant consumption by Slaanesh. The Dark Prince's hold over the Aeldari was absolute.
"Don't daze out! The bugs are still everywhere!"
The Swarm continued to pounce relentlessly. Losing focus in such a chaotic warzone was a death sentence. Only the fellow Succubus, drawing upon centuries of arena combat experience and honed instincts, managed to remain composed. She fought with desperate ferocity, driven by a single goal: reaching that cocoon.
Yet the seemingly short distance between them was a chasm they would never cross.
The psychic waves radiated outward in pulses, now occurring every few seconds. Cato Sicarius had also reached a vantage point where he could see the cocoon. He knew that whatever was inside was about to hatch.
"What manner of creature lies within?"
That question was answered moments later.
The cocoon, which had been emitting constant psychic pulses, suddenly went still. Every heart on the battlefield sank. After a brief, heavy silence, the psychic energy within detonated. A pillar of brilliant psychic light shot into the heavens like a beacon, piercing through the naval battle in high orbit.
Then, a massive Warp rift tore open. Debris from derelict ships began to spill out of the portal. The Daemons within looked around in utter confusion, as if asking, "Where the hell am I? Is this still the Warp?"
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Accompanied by a high-pitched, feminine shriek, the violent psychic energy threw the planet's entire atmosphere into a state of total upheaval—a scene visible even from the depths of space.
At that moment, the Zerg units ceased their fighting. They turned toward the pillar of light and bowed their heads in unison. Even if they were struck down in that instant, they did not care.
Even on Holy Terra, within the mechanical eye socket of the Emperor's skull, a faint red light flickered. He was likely plotting something again.
†A perfect debut for her.†
The Overmind was immensely satisfied with the "Queen of Blades'" entrance. Though it was a bit noisy, he no longer cared.
After the brief psychic eruption, the newborn Queen of Blades began to settle. Her appearance bore a striking resemblance to Sarah Kerrigan; bone claws unfurled from her back like wings, their tips shimmering with purple psychic energy.
"This... this..."
The Succubus closest to the Queen was paralyzed with shock. She could still see the face of her sister in that countenance, but the body was now encased in chitinous plating, and those brilliant amber eyes radiated a predatory, savage ferocity.
"Is this still my sister? What a blasphemous transformation!"
The Queen of Blades gazed at the Succubus, tilting her head slightly as if examining her. Then, she moved.
With a speed almost invisible to the naked eye, she lunged. Sensing the killing intent, the Succubus immediately raised her twin blades to counter. In a flash, the Queen of Blades appeared behind her. The psychic glow on her bone wings faded.
The Succubus stumbled forward a few steps, then froze. Suddenly, her body burst into two clean halves.
She had been killed in an instant.
A Succubus—a combatant ranked alongside a Chapter Master—had been one-shotted. This meant the Queen of Blades' lower power limit was at the Chapter Master level, while her upper limit remained unknown.
†My daughter.†
"Overmind."
The newborn Queen of Blades knelt on one knee toward the Overmind's location, declaring her absolute loyalty. The Overmind had no concerns regarding her fidelity; as long as the Overmind lived, no Zerg unit could ever defect. That was a certainty. Even if a unit possessed independent thought, it would carry out the Overmind's will unfailingly.
†Very good. Very good. Very good.†
The Overmind said "Good" three times.
†You shall work with Arc to annihilate the invaders. I look forward to your performance, my daughter.†
"I shall fulfill your will, Overmind."
The Queen of Blades stood and surveyed the distant battlefield. She first looked toward the Dark Aeldari positions, as they were closer. Crouching low, she suddenly leaped into the air. Her bone wings spread, and driven by psychic thrust, she began to fly.
Like a falling star, she plummeted into the fray between the Dark Aeldari and the Swarm. A Sslyth mercenary nearby had just raised his scimitar when his entire upper torso was sheared off and sent flying by a bone claw.
Such a scene of pure violence was only the beginning. What followed was a magnificent slaughter that would make even Khorne and Slaanesh stop to take a second look.