Russ woke five days after losing consciousness.
He opened his eyes and met the gazes of his brothers, Freki and Geri.
He read concern in their cold eyes. He gently stroked their fur.
His nose twitched. The scent of mead reached him.
He followed it and saw Jorin slumped against the wall.
He stared at the dejected Jorin, thinking silently.
Jorin's eyes fluttered. He felt the familiar gaze. He opened his eyes.
His murky eyes met the ice-blue. He was instantly awake.
"Wolf King, you're awake." Jorin leaped up, surprised.
Russ reached out, steadying him, his gaze appraising.
"Old friend, why are you like this?"
Jorin looked away. "I was just worried about you..."
"Really?"
Russ's persistence made it impossible for Jorin to hide.
"I just feel old."
"Sanchez, he didn't use sorcery, and I still lost to him."
"I failed your trust."
Russ grabbed Jorin's shoulders, forcing his murky eyes to meet his.
"Jorin, it's fine." His grip made Jorin's shoulders ache.
"It's just a suit of armor."
"But the Allfather blessed it." Jorin's voice was hoarse.
"That's fine too," Russ smiled. "Remember? I told you, you are unique. So I was willing to stake it for you."
"I..." Jorin's heart grew heavier.
"I will win it back," Russ said, smiling confidently.
He saw a mixture of hope and doubt in Jorin's eyes.
"Yes, I have lost to Nareth twice."
"But I can catch his fate. Remember?"
"The Allfather wove everyone's fate. I can find Nareth's in the underverden."
"The underverden," Jorin repeated the hearth-cant word. In High Gothic, it was "Underworld."
Legend said the Allfather dwelt in the upper world. The underworld was where the souls of the dead went.
"You are going to the underworld." Concern filled his eyes. "It's too dangerous. Even for you."
"Don't worry," Russ patted Jorin's shoulder. "I will ask the Rune Priests. I will find a way."
When Ohthere Wyrdmake, Rune Priest of the 5th Great Company, saw his Wolf King, he had already removed the frost armor, wrapped in thick furs.
Wyrdmake gripped his staff. Hatred blazed in his eyes.
'Nareth and Sanchez!'
'Allfather curse you, may you fall forever into the underworld!'
"Do you know how to get to the underworld?"
"The underworld." Wyrdmake shivered. No Fenrisian wanted to go there, especially Rune Priests.
He immediately tried to dissuade him. "Wolf King, you cannot go."
"Nareth's fate is strange." Russ's eyes were deep.
"Only there can I learn how to catch his fate, find a way to defeat him."
Wyrdmake's eyes blazed. He fell into thought.
For the first time, he wanted to lie to his Wolf King, to deceive him about the price.
He would give his life to help the Wolf King defeat Nareth.
But he knew the Wolf King would ask other Rune Priests, and he could not perform the ritual alone.
After a few seconds, Wyrdmake spoke honestly.
"The Siltir Gate only opens when Fenris is at perihelion."
"You will encounter strange creatures in the underworld. Specters. Even more dangerous things. To face them, you will need dueling focus and calm. Never let your guard down..."
"Every gift in the underworld comes with a sacrifice. Do you accept this rule, my Wolf King?"
Russ was calm. He spoke. "I accept."
"Every Rune Priest who performs the ritual for you will die." Wyrdmake's voice was cold. "I will give my life to open the path to the underworld."
"I refuse." Leman Russ shook his head.
"I will not sacrifice you to win."
"Unless one day Nareth betrays the Allfather. But that is impossible."
"Nareth, like Magnus, is obsessed with sorcery. But they are both loyal to the Allfather."
He had once suspected Nareth might fall, obsessed with sorcery.
But after repeated investigations, he had found no signs of sorcery abuse. Even Wyrdmake, who hated Shadows of Order, had found no loss of control in sorcery.
Wyrdmake was silent. Though he hated Nareth, he had to admit his achievements were great, and Shadows of Order had given their lives for the Imperium.
As Russ made his decision, in the grey forest, Stevens, adjutant of the Seventh Chapter's Fifth Company, led three hunting squads through the woods.
He recalled his Father's decisive defeat of the Wolf King and the anxious, grey figure of that wolf.
Amlodhi Skarssen Skarssensson, Wolf Lord of the 5th Great Company.
He would never forget that day, as a member of the Honor Guard, he had insisted Skarssensson leave his giant wolves outside.
He remembered the fierce gaze, the hand reaching back, gripping the axe in threat.
He remembered the chill, knowing he had no chance against a Wolf Lord.
But he had defended the Honor Guard's dignity, and for that, he had gained his Father's favor, been granted power, and become a "Hunter."
The newly promoted "Pyromaniac's" eyes sparked. He clenched his fist.
'Skarssensson, with the power my Father granted me, I will defeat you.'
He remembered, as a "Provoker," using the environment to defeat Lucius, now a renowned swordsman, rumored to be a top candidate for Captain of the Emperor's Children's 13th Company. He grew even more confident.
'Skarssensson!'
'I will burn your foul wolves to ash. I will burn your wolf pelts clean.'
'You must live long enough. Until I defeat you!'
He knew the Wolves were licking their wounds from the Wolf King's and Jorin's defeats. Now was not the time.
The "Pyromaniac's" eyes swept the grey woods, observing.
Lecter was a dark, barren world. Even the wind was calm.
His psychic intuition stirred. A breeze blew.
Since becoming a "Pyromaniac," his danger intuition had improved. He no longer only sensed it when attacked. He could trigger it by observing the environment.
He raised his hand. Orange Fire Ravens condensed, circling, then flying out.
They scattered, flying towards the wolf-like creatures.
SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH...
The predators' long tongues snapped back like springs. Their two fangs gleamed dangerously.
Their pitch-black bodies leaped, bounding through the grey woods.
The "Pyromaniac," following the spiritual energy in the Fire Ravens, tried to guide their scattered attacks.
Fire Ravens flew. Black wolves fled.
"Prepare!" Thirty Shadows of Orders raised their hunting guns. Nucerian anesthetic needles were loaded.
They looked around. Their Squat hunter modules' rune arrays flickered, tracking the targets.
The black shadows were swift as the wind. The runes flickered, unable to lock on.
The "Pyromaniac" clenched his fists, abandoning five Fire Ravens he couldn't precisely control. The other six accelerated, flying at the Grey Hunters.
The six Grey Hunters felt the searing flames. Their fur bristled.
They hastily leaped from the grey trees, rolling to evade.
Eighteen red runes suddenly turned green.
Anesthetic needles shot. The Grey Hunters' tongues shot out.
Two tongues were hit by one or two needles. Their black bodies stiffened, crashing to the ground.
The remaining four tongues struck the ground, like poles, propelling them in desperate rolls.
Five needles, guided by the hunter modules, turned, hitting three Grey Hunters.
One Grey Hunter slid between six needles, lunging at a Shadows of Order.
Its tongue retracted, then shot out, wrapping around a black-armored warrior's arm.
A gleam of red crossed its eyes. It opened its narrow jaws, biting down on the power armor.
As ceramite shards flew, a Blazing Spear shot, piercing its black abdomen.
After saving his man, the "Pyromaniac" condensed more Fire Ravens around him.
.......
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu