The first thing I had to consider, as soon as I walked out of the home I'd known my whole life, leaving my parents behind forever, was what to do with the War Points I had now.
I had 8000 War Points, earned from forcing Helena to retreat. Honestly, I hadn't expected a reward at all. I'd failed to kill her, and the System didn't seem like the kind to hand out participation trophies. But there it was, free points. I wasn't about to complain. I'd take what I could get, especially since Helena was likely licking her wounds somewhere, plotting her next move. There was no question that she'd be gunning for me. Probably soon. Probably pissed.
Still, she was wounded. I wasn't. Not fully, anyway – or, at least, not nearly as much as she was, because I certainly don't remember getting blasted by a concentrated blast of alien plasma. That gave me a small window to work with.
The first thought that came to mind was to buy another [Culexus Assassin]. Crentist had been a game-changer, but now he was bound to his lifelong mission of protecting my parents. I couldn't call him to my side anymore. Another Crentist would fill the gap. Another unstoppable anti-magic juggernaut to help me fend off Helena or whatever other nightmares were coming my way.
But I hesitated. The idea was tempting, sure, but it wasn't optimal.
Crentist's absence during the fight with Helena had made something painfully clear: I was the weak link. Even with my [Blank] aura, I wasn't durable enough. Her magic still got through. My aura could slow it, dull its edge, but it didn't stop the damage. Not yet. That was the problem I needed to solve first. Another Crentist wouldn't fix that.
Upgrading [Blank] was the real solution. If I could push it to the next level, I'd be closer to Crentist's level of magic nullification. Maybe even beyond it someday. If I could reach a point where magic couldn't hurt me at all, that would be a game-changer. No more dodging or scrambling for cover. I could stand my ground.
I pulled up the System.
[Blank] Upgrade Cost: 11,000 War Points
A little steep. I had 8000. That left me 3000 short. My fingers flexed at my sides, tapping against the smooth barrel of the [Tau Rail Rifle] as I walked – I was keeping it on me whenever there weren't a lot of people, because I wasn't taking any risks to my safety, plus the basic [Blank] aura made me extremely difficult to perceive anyway. Still, I'd need a bunch more War Points to get to the next level. I'd get there, no question. The question was how fast I could earn those points without risking my neck.
I still hurt from the fight, my body aching with every step. My clothes were new, but I could already see a few flecks of blood, from wounds reopening, staining the fabric. Honestly, if my VIT stat was not as high as it was – at an inhuman 37 – then I'd probably already be dead. The internal and external injuries I'd sustained during that fight were certainly enough to kill anyone else.
Then it hit me. I already had a solution for this, and I'd completely ignored it during the fight like an idiot. My jaw tightened as I pulled up my list of skills and found it.
[Isha's Mercy] Level 2 – Touch a wounded target to accelerate their natural regeneration. Current rate of enhanced regeneration is 600% faster than natural. (Use for a total of 90 Seconds to Level Up.)
The timer at the bottom caught my attention. Ninety seconds of use would level it up. How had I forgotten this? It wasn't just a useful healing ability. It could make me near-unkillable if I pushed it far enough. The faster I healed, the more I could endure. Helena wouldn't get the chance to overwhelm me.
I sat on a nearby bench, ignoring the slight groan of the wood beneath my weight. I pressed a hand to my arm and activated the skill. A soft, green glow emanated from my palm, faint and warm. The stiffness in my shoulder began to ease. The throbbing dulled. But, honestly, I couldn't expect much of it for now. A 600% increase in natural healing was nothing, especially with the skill's inherent limitations. All it meant was that the amount of recovery I'd get within six seconds would now be reduced to one second.
I let the skill run for a few seconds before deactivating it – a total of thirty seconds, to be exact. I could feel the drain on my stamina, but it was manageable. My VIT]stat – 37 now – made sure of that. Without it, I'd probably be passed out on the ground from overuse, like the first few times I tried to use this ability.
The more I thought about it, the clearer my plan became. [Isha's Mercy] wasn't just something to level up for convenience. It was a priority. If I could push it to the point where my regeneration outpaced most attacks, I'd have a much better chance against Helena or anyone else who came after me.
But leveling it would take time. And time was something I didn't have.
Or did I?
I glanced at the System's dungeon list. The [Nurglite Dungeon] was still grayed out, its timer reading one day and a half. That was out. The only available option was the [Slaaneshi Dungeon], the one with the bright red skull icon practically screaming "certain death."
I frowned, my finger hovering over it.
The danger didn't matter. I wasn't planning to fight the mobs. Not yet. My plan was simple. Go in, find a place to hide, and grind [Isha's Mercy]. I could spend hours – days, even – leveling it up in the safety of an Instant Dungeon. Time didn't move outside. I'd come out stronger without wasting a second in the real world.
It was risky, sure. But it wasn't like I had better options.
Helena might be out there, but for now, she'd have to wait. Not like she could chase me into a dungeon anyway.
I opened the System menu again and tapped the icon for the [Slaaneshi Dungeon].
Warning: This dungeon is rated significantly above your current level. Entering is not recommended. However, entering a dungeon that is significantly above your current level will double the rarity and worth of the rewards.
A confirmation prompt appeared. I took a moment to read, my brows rising at the double reward thing, before hitting "Yes" without hesitation.
The world around me twisted, colors bleeding together as the System transported me. A faint ringing filled my ears, growing louder until it cut off abruptly. When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a new world.
The air here was heavy, cloying, filled with a strange, sweet scent. The ground was soft beneath my boots, like moss, but it shifted unnervingly underfoot. Strange, twisted shapes loomed in the distance, their outlines shimmering. And, everywhere I looked, I saw massive crags and caves and jagged and twisted rocks, reaching for the heavens. The sky was a swirling mass of pinks and purples, broken only by the occasional jagged streak of lightning.
Unlike the Nurglite Dungeon, this one was not a replica of any city that I knew of. In fact, nothing here was remotely close to familiar – an alien landscape, vast beyond my imagination. I tightened my grip on the [Tau Rail Rifle], scanning the area. My instincts screamed at me to move, to find cover.
Whatever lived here, it wasn't friendly. And the fact that I definitely was not prepared for this dungeon, something the System saw fit to remind me, meant that I needed to find cover as soon as possible. I found a cluster of warped, jagged rocks nearby and slipped behind them, crouching low. And, underneath it was a section that looked just about spacious enough for me to crawl into and back out again with a bit of effort. Good thing I wasn't claustrophobic or this would've been really difficult.
It... was as good a place as any, I figured. So, time to get to grinding. I pressed a hand to my chest, activating [Isha's Mercy] again. This was going to be a pretty long grind.
I did not know how much time I actually spent trying to heal my own injuries. Time was not an easily measured thing when I did not have a watch and could not see the sky, though the weird sky here definitely wouldn't help anyway. I heard footsteps and other strange sounds from outside every so often, the mobs of enemies likely searching for me, but failing quite splendidly. I didn't care about them. As long as they couldn't see me, then I was going to grind. I kept going. Plus, it helped that I actually felt my body gradually mending.
Time lost its meaning. And then....
Skill Evolution!
You have reached the maximum level of [Isha's Mercy]. The skill has evolved into a higher form, [Isha's Favor].
[Isha's Favor] – Touch a wounded or injured target to begin healing their wounds or injuries. Rate of healing is dependent on your VIT. No longer drains stamina. Cannot replace lost body parts.
The first thing I noted was the lack of hard numbers. Nothing about it told me about its rate of healing, aside from the fact that it was tied to my VIT. It couldn't restore lost body parts, but I already expected that. This was, after all, the evolution of the first skill I ever gained – for free, at that. However, that it no longer drained my stamina was a freaking huge boon, because that meant I could just keep it on with no real consequence, which would essentially grant me regeneration. That said, it wasn't a skill that I could toggle on or off, like [Blank], so I had to consciously keep it on, which I could do with some practice. First things first, however; I needed to test it. So, I scraped my hand against a particularly sharp bit of rock and drew a tiny bit of blood. And then, I activated the skill and look on as the tiny cut sealed shut in less than a second.
And I didn't even feel tired.
Great.
Fucking awesome, in fact.
There didn't seem to be a mechanic to level it up, however, which probably meant the mechanic was hidden or it simply did not exist, which was fine by me.
Now, the only problem left was the dungeon itself. I couldn't get out, after all, unless I cleared the damn place. So, very slowly, I crawled out of the hole I'd crawled into and took out the [Tau Rail Rifle] from my [Inventory]. I glanced around. No enemies, thus far. And, if my memory was correct, then it'd been several hours since I last heard the sound of footsteps. I had no idea what sort of enemies I'd be facing, but they definitely wouldn't be zombies, like in the last dungeon. I was torn between trying to traverse this place alone and just summoning my whole army for safety reasons. The twenty [Cadian Shock Trooper]s that I had certainly hadn't made themselves useful just yet – not that they could've done much against Helena, to be honest.
However, summoning all my forces right now would mean revealing my position to the enemy. I couldn't risk it – not yet, at least.
What I needed were a few extra pair of eyes.
So, I summoned 3 Cadians, enough to form a rudimentary squad, enough eyes to cover every angle. Three of them appeared before me, two dudes and one girl, all in the same uniform and all armed with the same weapon – they were all the same height too, which was odd. My [Tempestus Scions Training] kicked in immediately. "Wedge Formation. Keep your eyes peeled."
The Cadians saluted and immediately got into formation. "We're moving out."
The faint hum of the Cadians' las-rifles filled the air as we moved in tight formation. The jagged terrain around us shimmered under the eerie, violet-pink sky. The place reeked of something sweet and acrid, clinging to the back of my throat. My boots crunched against the soft, shifting ground, the sound barely audible over the occasional crackle of distant energy storms.
"Hold," I whispered, raising a hand. The Cadians stopped instantly, their rifles snapping into a ready position. Their movements were silent, disciplined, practiced. I scanned the warped terrain ahead. The jagged rocks cast long, twisting shadows that seemed to move even when the air was still.
A low, guttural laugh echoed from somewhere in the distance.
It wasn't just a sound – it felt alive, crawling across my skin like static. My grip on the [Tau Rail Rifle] tightened, and I motioned for the Cadians to fan out slightly, forming a broader arc.
The laugh grew louder, followed by the unmistakable whine of a chainsaw revving to life. A shape emerged from the shadows – a man, though barely recognizable as one. His pale, sweat-slick skin glistened under the strange light. His eyes were wide, pupils blown, his expression twisted in a manic grin that split his face unnaturally. Tattoos and scars covered his body, crude symbols carved into his flesh, oozing pink and red.
He swung the chainsaw overhead, the blade roaring with manic energy. His steps were uneven, almost stumbling, but he moved with terrifying speed.
The sound of his voice was jagged, words tumbling out in an incoherent frenzy. "Beautiful! BEAUTIFUL! Your flesh – your pain - will feed my ecstasy!"
"Enemy sighted," one of the Cadians murmured, his voice flat.
The cultist charged, the chainsaw raised high. His laugh turned into a shrill scream that pierced the air.
The Cadians didn't flinch.
"Fire," I said, my voice steady.
A single las-rifle barked. A crimson beam lanced through the air, striking the cultist square in the chest. His momentum faltered. His body jolted as the energy burned through him, smoke rising from the blackened wound. The chainsaw slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground as he collapsed in a heap.
Silence returned, heavy and oppressive. The Cadians stood at the ready, their rifles trained on the unmoving body.
"Confirm kill," I said.
The Cadian who fired stepped forward, his boots crunching on the uneven ground. He nudged the body with the barrel of his rifle. The cultist didn't move. The Cadian glanced back at me, nodding once. "Dead, sir."
I exhaled slowly, scanning the terrain again. Nothing moved. No sound followed. The cultist lay still, his body twisted unnaturally, smoke still curling from his wound.
"What the hell was that?" I muttered under my breath, crouching near the body. Up close, the man looked even worse. His skin shimmered faintly, like it was coated in a thin layer of oil. His tattoos writhed unnaturally, as though they were alive, twisting in ways that defied reason.
His eyes were still open, frozen in that manic stare. His grin remained, even in death. The chainsaw beside him sputtered weakly, the blade twitching before falling silent.
"Movement, sir," another Cadian said sharply. His rifle shifted slightly, aimed beyond the cultist.
I stood, gripping the [Tau Rail Rifle] tighter. My eyes scanned the area, but I saw nothing. The eerie light played tricks, shadows shifting and twisting. The sweet, acrid scent in the air thickened, making it harder to breathe.
"Eyes up," I said. The Cadians adjusted their positions, their rifles sweeping in controlled arcs.
The laugh returned – this time, faint and distant, but unmistakably the same. It echoed off the rocks, growing louder, closer. The ground beneath my boots trembled slightly, as though something massive moved far below.
"Contact imminent," I muttered. "Hold position. Weapons ready."
The Cadians responded in unison. "Yes, sir."
The faint tremor grew stronger. A crackling sound joined it, like dry branches snapping. Shadows began to shift unnaturally, pooling and stretching in directions that didn't match the terrain. I raised the [Tau Rail Rifle], training it on the largest shadow, just beyond the dead cultist.
A figure began to emerge, its silhouette monstrous.
"We're not alone," I whispered.
The tremors underfoot grew stronger, sending small rocks skittering across the ground. The laughter came again, louder, closer, joined by high-pitched giggles and guttural shouts.
"Multiple contacts," I muttered, my voice tight. "Stay sharp."
Shapes moved in the shadows, emerging one by one. More Slaaneshi Cultists. Some were gaunt and wiry, their pale skin glistening with sweat, while others were bloated, their flesh marked with jagged scars and tattoos that seemed to writhe like living things. All of them carried weapons – chainsaws, serrated blades, makeshift clubs studded with nails. Their eyes gleamed with a feverish light, and their grins stretched too wide, almost splitting their faces.
"Kill them all!" one of the cultists screamed, their voice breaking into a shriek.
They charged.
"Fire!" I barked.
The Cadians responded instantly. Their las-rifles snapped up, bright red beams lancing out into the charging mob. Each shot found its mark, striking unarmored flesh. Cultists dropped mid-sprint, their bodies jerking as smoke curled from charred wounds. The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
But there were too many. More poured out from behind the jagged rocks, screaming in ecstasy as they sprinted over the bodies of their fallen.
"Reloading," one of the Cadians called, stepping back to replace the power pack in his rifle.
"Cover him!" I shouted, already reaching for the System. More reinforcements. More firepower. The enclosed space wouldn't allow for many, but three more Cadians would balance the odds. I confirmed the summon.
In a flash of light, three new soldiers materialized behind us, their las-rifles already raised.
"Reinforcements on the line. Wedge formation! Keep firing!" I ordered.
"Yes, sir!" the Cadians barked, moving into position. The newcomers filled the gaps seamlessly, their rifles spitting death at the oncoming cultists. Bodies piled up, but the mob kept coming. The laughter and screams grew louder, reverberating off the twisted terrain.
I gritted my teeth and sent the [Tau Rail Rifle] back into my Inventory. The weapon was too powerful for this fight; its shots would rip through the cultists and half the rock formations around us, creating more chaos than I needed. I summoned the [Las Pistol] instead. Compact, precise, efficient.
The weapon buzzed to life in my hand as I raised it and took aim. A cultist barreled toward me, wielding a jagged, two-handed blade. Their eyes were wild, blood dribbling from their mouth as they screamed incoherently. I fired. The beam punched through their chest, and they crumpled mid-step, their weapon clattering to the ground.
More cultists emerged, too many to hold this position. I scanned the terrain quickly, my eyes landing on a narrow passageway between two jagged rock formations. It would funnel the cultists into a single line, negating their numbers advantage.
"There!" I pointed to the chokepoint. "We're moving! Fall back and establish a kill-zone!"
The Cadians responded instantly. "Yes, sir!"
They moved with precision, firing in short, controlled bursts as they retreated toward the chokepoint. I covered the rear, the [Las Pistol] snapping out shot after shot. Every beam found its mark, dropping a cultist with a single hit. But they kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless, their cries of ecstasy and rage deafening.
We reached the passage. I stepped aside, letting the Cadians take position. They formed a staggered line, their rifles aimed down the narrow corridor.
"Hold this position!" I barked.
"Yes, sir!"
The cultists charged into the bottleneck, their screams echoing through the narrow space. The Cadians opened fire in unison, their las-rifles cutting through the enemy like scythes through wheat. The passage filled with the stench of burning flesh and the crackle of energy discharges. Bodies piled up, blocking the path, but the cultists climbed over their fallen, their bloodlust driving them forward.
I fired alongside the Cadians, aiming for the faster cultists who slipped through the gaps. A particularly large one wielding a makeshift flail roared as he closed the distance. I fired twice, the second shot punching through his chest. He toppled, the flail dropping harmlessly at his side.
The kill-zone worked. The passage slowed their advance, forcing them into predictable paths. The Cadians fired with brutal efficiency, their shots clean and precise. The cultists' charge faltered, their numbers thinning.
A few of the cultists began to hesitate, their steps slowing, their grins faltering. The ground beneath them was slick with blood, and the pile of bodies at the chokepoint had become an impassable barrier.
"Push them back!" I shouted.
The Cadians advanced a step, firing relentlessly. The cultists broke. Those still standing turned and ran, their laughter replaced with shrieks of fear.
"Cease fire," I ordered. The crackle of las-rifles died, leaving only the faint hum of the weapons and the distant echoes of retreating footsteps.
"Clear the bodies," I said, motioning to the piled corpses. "We're not done yet."
"Yes, sir," a Cadian replied, stepping forward to shove the bodies aside with the butt of his rifle.
I scanned the horizon, my grip tightening on the [Las Pistol]. This was just the first wave.
More would come.
I could feel it.
The Cadians worked fast, clearing the bodies with precision. They hauled the corpses aside, creating space to fire if another wave came. The metallic tang of blood hung thick in the air, and the ground beneath us was slick with gore. I kept my eyes on the horizon, scanning for movement.
Then, I saw them.
Shapes darted through the haze, fast and lithe. The air grew heavier, the faint sound of laughter – high-pitched and lilting – reaching my ears. My stomach clenched as the shadows solidified into figures.
Monstrous, half-women, with horns and crab-like pincers in place of hands, hoofed feet, and long tongues. The System recognized them as [Daemonettes]
They moved like streaks of light, their clawed limbs gleaming as they bounded over the rocky terrain. Their faces were twisted, unnervingly beautiful yet horrifying, their eyes blazing with cruel delight.
"Contacts!" I shouted, raising the [Las Pistol]. "Engage! Don't let them close!"
The Cadians snapped to action, their rifles spitting crimson beams. The shots struck true, cutting down a few of the Daemonettes mid-leap, but they moved too fast. Inhumanly fast. One Cadian barely had time to scream before a clawed hand slashed through his chest, spilling him to the ground. Another soldier was thrown back, his rifle clattering away as a Daemonette eviscerated him in one fluid motion.
"Fall back!" I yelled, firing at a Daemonette closing in on my flank. The beam scorched through its chest, dropping it, but another surged forward to take its place. The third Cadian screamed as razor-sharp claws tore through his helmet. Blood sprayed as his lifeless body hit the dirt.
The remaining soldiers retreated, firing in short bursts, but the Daemonettes were relentless. I gritted my teeth. We were outmatched.
I reached for the System. No more holding back. This wasn't a fight we could win without brute force.
"Summoning Tyranid Carnifexes," I muttered, confirming the command, though I didn't really need to speak aloud for it.
My three Carnifexes materialized in a blinding flash of light. The ground shook violently beneath their bulk as they appeared, each towering over the battlefield like monstrous gods of war. Their thick, chitinous armor gleamed under the unnatural sky, and their massive claws gleamed with an organic sheen that promised death.
The Daemonettes didn't even have time to react. The first Carnifex barreled forward, its sheer mass flattening three Daemonettes in its path. The impact shattered nearby rock formations, sending debris flying in all directions. Another Carnifex roared, its guttural bellow shaking the air as it swung its scythe-like claws, slicing through a cluster of Daemonettes as if they were paper.
The tide shifted immediately.
The Daemonettes, so swift and deadly before, now looked like children trying to stop a tank. One leaped onto a Carnifex's back, claws scrabbling at its armor, but the beast bucked hard, flinging the creature into a nearby rock formation. The impact was fatal, the Daemonette reduced to a bloody smear.
"Keep firing!" I shouted to the remaining Cadians, raising my [Las Pistol] to pick off any stragglers. A Daemonette darted toward me, its claws extended. I fired twice, both shots hitting its chest. It dropped, skidding to a stop at my feet.
The third Carnifex charged through the chaos, its massive feet crushing Daemonettes as they tried to flee. One swung its claws in desperation, slashing at the Carnifex's leg, but it was like attacking a tank with a toothpick. The beast retaliated with a single swipe, cutting the Daemonette in half.
The air was thick with the sounds of destruction. The Carnifexes moved like living engines of death, their roars blending with the screams of the dying. The ground trembled under their weight, the rocky terrain reduced to rubble in their wake.
The last Daemonette tried to run, its movements frantic, but a Carnifex lunged forward, its jaws snapping shut around the fleeing figure. The creature let out a final, choked scream before disappearing into the beast's maw.
Silence fell.
The Carnifexes stomped through the clearing, each step shaking the ground. The battlefield was silent now, save for the occasional scrape of rocks tumbling from shattered formations. Smoke and the sickly stench of burning flesh clung to the air, heavy and cloying.
I scanned the area, the [Las Pistol] still warm in my hand. The last Daemonette had been crushed under a Carnifex claw, its body unrecognizable. For now, we were safe. But safety didn't last long in this dungeon.
"Form up," I said, motioning to the Cadians. The survivors moved into position, weapons at the ready. Their discipline held, but the losses had shaken them. The absence of three of their number was a silent weight.
I glanced at the Carnifexes. They loomed like living mountains, ichor dripping from their claws and fangs. Reliable, but loud. Too loud to stay mobile for long without drawing more attention. We needed a defensible position.
"Scout ahead," I ordered one of the Cadians. "Look for higher ground. Something enclosed."
"Yes, sir." He nodded sharply and disappeared into the haze, las-rifle held low but ready.
I crouched near the others, gesturing for them to hold position.
"We're digging in," I said. "This isn't over."
They didn't need convincing. The tension in the air was enough.
Minutes passed before the scout returned, his expression tight. "Found a spot, sir. Narrow approach, good visibility. Could be fortified."
"Show me." I motioned for the group to follow.
The Carnifexes lumbered behind us, their guttural growls rumbling low like distant thunder. It wasn't far – a natural alcove carved into the jagged landscape, surrounded by towering spires of warped stone. The approach was a single, narrow path, with enough space inside for all of us to set up.
"Perfect," I muttered, stepping inside. The Cadians fanned out, checking corners and securing the perimeter. The Carnifexes positioned themselves at the entrance, their bulk blocking most of the path. Any enemy coming through would have to go through them first.
This was as good as it was going to get.
Time to reinforce.
I opened the System and began summoning. First, the two [Ork Nobz]. They materialized with a crackling hum, towering over the Cadians. Their green-skinned bulk was covered in jagged armor plates, and each wielded a massive Power Klaw that hummed with deadly energy. One of them let out a guttural laugh, flexing the claw with a metallic whine.
"Dis gonna be a fight, eh, boss?" one of them growled.
I ignored the comment and turned back to the System. The next summon brought forth the three [Drukhari Incubi]. They appeared silently, their wickedly curved blades gleaming in the dim light. Their spiked armor caught the glow, and their movements were liquid, unnervingly graceful. One inclined his helmeted head slightly, acknowledging me.
Last, I summoned fifteen more [Cadian Shock Troopers]. They materialized in disciplined formation, their las-rifles already raised. The new arrivals moved seamlessly into position, blending with the existing squad. The narrow space was packed now, but it worked to our advantage. No one could breach this without paying a steep price.
"Alright," I said, addressing them all. "This is our holdout. Anyone comes through, they die. Nobz, you're on melee duty. Incubi, pick off anything that gets too close. Cadians, suppressing fire. Carnifexes stay put – if anything big comes through, you crush it."
"Yes, sir," the Cadians said in unison. The Orks grunted their approval, and the Incubi remained silent, but their blades gleamed in readiness.
I moved to the edge of the alcove, crouching near the Carnifexes. They rumbled softly, their claws twitching. The path ahead was quiet, but the swirling sky above felt like it was watching, waiting.
"We hold," I muttered, gripping the [Las Pistol]. "Let them come."
The first sound was the laughter. High-pitched, twisted, and growing louder. Then came the stomping. Erratic footfalls echoed through the jagged terrain, drawing closer.
I crouched behind a jagged boulder, signaling the others with a quick hand gesture. The Cadians snapped into position, their las-rifles aimed at the narrow path leading to the alcove. The Ork Nobz grunted, flexing their Power Klaws, while the Incubi stood motionless, blades gleaming like predatory fangs. The Carnifexes shifted slightly, claws twitching, ready to crush anything that approached.
"Contact," a Cadian muttered, his voice low.
Figures emerged from the shadows – cultists. Dozens of them. They charged, some wielding chainsaws, others clutching crude, jagged blades. Their eyes were wild, their laughter deafening. Behind them came the Daemonettes, their lithe forms darting between the charging mob. Their claws shimmered, sharp as razors, and their twisted grins gleamed under the flickering light.
"Hold," I hissed, waiting until they were halfway down the path.
The first cultist screamed as he lunged forward, chainsaw raised high.
"Fire!" I barked.
The Cadians unleashed a volley of crimson beams. The las-rifles cut through the front ranks, dropping cultists mid-step. Smoke curled from charred flesh as bodies crumpled to the ground. The Daemonettes leaped over the falling cultists, moving faster than the beams could track. They twisted through the air, claws flashing.
"Incubi, engage!" I snapped.
The Drukhari moved in unison, silent as shadows. Their blades met the first wave of Daemonettes with a metallic hiss, slicing through limbs and torsos. Sparks flew as claws clashed against their spiked armor, but the Incubi's precision was unmatched.
A Daemonette slipped past, lunging toward a Cadian. Its claws were inches from his throat when a Nob swung its Power Klaw in a devastating arc. The crackling energy field tore through the Daemonette, splitting it in two. The Ork bellowed a laugh, stepping over the twitching halves.
"More coming!" a Cadian called, reloading his rifle.
I turned my attention back to the path. The cultists weren't stopping. They poured in from all sides, climbing over the bodies of their fallen. The Daemonettes moved among them, faster and more lethal than before.
One of the Carnifexes roared, its claws smashing into the narrow walls of the path. The impact sent chunks of rock crashing down, crushing several cultists beneath the rubble. Another Carnifex lunged forward, swiping its scythe-like claws through the crowd. The strike sent bodies flying, their screams cut short.
I raised my [Las Pistol] and fired at a cultist charging with a serrated axe. The beam hit him square in the chest, and he collapsed in a heap. Another cultist scrambled over his body, swinging wildly, only to be gunned down by a Cadian.
"Push them back!" I shouted, stepping closer to the line. My shots found their marks, each beam taking down a cultist or clipping a Daemonette's leg, slowing them enough for the Incubi to finish them off.
A Daemonette vaulted over a rampaging Carnifex and darted toward the alcove. Its claws slashed through the air, aiming for the nearest Nob. The Ork grinned, blocking the strike with his armored forearm before slamming the Power Klaw into its chest. The Daemonette let out a high-pitched shriek as the energy field tore through its body.
The battle raged on, the path clogged with bodies and blood. The cultists' laughter grew shrill, desperate, as their numbers dwindled. The Daemonettes pressed harder, their claws slicing through the gaps in the Cadian formation. One soldier fell, his throat torn open, his rifle clattering to the ground. Another was thrown back, his chestplate shredded.
"Hold the line!" I yelled, firing at a Daemonette leaping toward me. The shot burned through its torso, and it crumpled to the ground, twitching.
The Carnifexes roared again, their massive frames crushing everything in their path. One of them grabbed a cultist in its claws, lifting him high before snapping him in half with a sickening crunch. The blood sprayed across the rocks, painting them red.
The cultists broke first. Their screams of laughter turned to cries of terror as they turned and ran, scrambling over the bodies of their comrades. The Daemonettes hissed and screeched, their movements faltering. One by one, they fell under the relentless assault. The last of them lunged toward an Incubus, its claws raised high. The Drukhari sidestepped the attack, driving its blade through the creature's throat in a single, fluid motion.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
The air was thick with the smell of blood and burning flesh. The ground was littered with bodies, their twisted forms piled high at the entrance to the alcove. The Carnifexes stood like towering sentinels, their claws dripping with ichor. The Orks grunted, stepping over the corpses, their Power Klaws crackling with residual energy.
I lowered the [Las Pistol], my breathing steadying. The Cadians began reloading their weapons, their movements precise and mechanical.
"Status report," I said, my voice sharp.
"Three down, sir," one of the Cadians replied, motioning toward the fallen soldiers. None of the Orks, Drukhari, and Carnifexes had died, fortunately.
I clenched my jaw. "Move the bodies."
"Yes, sir."
As the soldiers began their grim task, I glanced at the horizon. The swirling sky seemed darker now, more oppressive. This wasn't over. More would come. And when they did, we'd be ready.
The dead Cadians vanished in flashes of light, their bodies dissolving into energy before disappearing completely. A notification from the System blinked in my vision.
[Units Lost: 3 Cadian Shock Troopers. They will be unavailable for 24 hours.]
I clenched my fists, glancing at the others still standing. The remaining Cadians reloaded in silence, their movements methodical. The Incubi were already cleaning their blades, their spiked armor splattered with gore. The Nobz stood to the side, grunting and inspecting their Power Klaws. The Carnifexes loomed over the battlefield, ichor dripping from their massive claws. They stood still, waiting, breathing heavily through their monstrous frames.
"Stay sharp," I said.
"Yes, sir," a Cadian replied.
We didn't have long to wait. The air shifted again, growing heavy with that sickly sweet scent. Faint laughter echoed from the distance, mixed with guttural growls. A second wave was coming, larger than the first.
I glanced at the System, hesitating for only a second. The [Exocrene] was a last resort. It wasn't built for these tight spaces. But without it, we wouldn't hold.
"Summoning [Exocrene]," I muttered.
In a blinding flash, the massive Tyranid artillery beast materialized. Its bulbous body rippled with alien muscle, its bio-plasma cannon glowing faintly as it hummed to life. The ground shook under its weight, the stones beneath it cracking.
The laughter grew louder, closer. Shadows moved across the jagged rocks, shapes forming in the gloom. Cultists poured out first, screaming incoherently, their chainsaws roaring. Behind them came the Daemonettes, faster and more numerous than before, their claws glinting like deadly razors.
"Hold the line!" I barked, raising my [Las Pistol]. "Carnifexes forward!"
The Carnifexes roared and charged, their massive frames crashing into the cultists. The first wave crumpled under their claws, bodies torn apart like paper. But the Daemonettes slipped through the gaps, darting toward the line.
"Fire!" I shouted.
The Cadians fired in unison, their las-rifles cutting through the unarmored foes. Each shot found its mark, dropping cultists and Daemonettes alike. The Incubi darted forward, their swords slicing cleanly through limbs and torsos, but the sheer number of enemies began to overwhelm us.
A Daemonette lunged at a Nob, its claws slashing at his arm. The Ork bellowed in rage, smashing it aside with his Klaw, but more swarmed him. A second Nob roared, cleaving through the enemies with wide arcs of his crackling weapon.
"Exocrene, target the backline!" I commanded.
The bio-plasma cannon hummed louder, its organic mechanisms charging with energy. A moment later, it fired. The shot was a searing sphere of green energy, massive and blinding. It roared through the air, slamming into the center of the enemy horde.
The impact was catastrophic. Cultists and Daemonettes were vaporized instantly, their screams cut off as the blast engulfed them. The explosion rippled outward, obliterating everything in its path. Rocks shattered, bodies disintegrated, and the jagged terrain warped under the heat.
The narrow path that had funneled the enemies into our kill-zone disappeared, replaced by a massive crater. The rocks that had formed the chokepoint were reduced to rubble, leaving a wide, open expanse.
I cursed under my breath.
The remaining enemies hesitated, their momentum broken. The few that survived the blast turned and fled, their laughter now replaced by panicked cries. The field fell silent again, save for the faint hum of the Exocrene's cannon cooling.
"Damage assessment," I said, my voice sharp.
"Two more shock troopers down, sir," one soldier reported, gesturing to the spots where their comrades had fallen.
The System chimed again.
[Units Lost: 2 Cadian Shock Troopers. Unavailable for 24 hours.]
I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of the fight settling in. This wasn't sustainable. I needed a better plan. Before I could think further, the System flashed another notification.
[Dungeon Boss Revealed: Thalessis the Pain Mistress, Keeper of Secrets.]
[Boss Summoning in: 1 Hour. Use this time to prepare.]
I exhaled slowly, my eyes narrowing at the message. A Keeper of Secrets. If it was anything like the Great Unclean One, then I was in for the fight of my life.
"One hour," I muttered, turning to my forces. "We hold here. Regroup and fortify. This isn't over."