A Succubus is a Wych far more powerful than the common rank-and-file. Although they do not use psychic powers, they possess "Dark Technology" that mimics psychic effects.
The Succubus threw down a black, gem-like object. The gem shattered instantly upon hitting the ground, transforming into a dense shroud of black mist that blanketed a vast area.
"Hmm?"
Nydusara had never encountered this before. Even through the collective vision of the Zerg Swarm, it was impossible to see through the murk; one could only vaguely sense objects moving nearby. But before the Zerg units could strike, they were decapitated or dismembered.
Nydusara soon sensed the abnormality of the black mist. "A troublesome ability, but nothing the Swarm cannot overcome."
The Succubus and her Wyches danced through the fog, slaughtering Zerg units with abandon. But as Nydusara said, everything had a counter. A new Zerg unit—one with powerful skills but low baseline stats, much like the Viper—appeared on the battlefield. These units were not expensive to produce, but they remained rare; only a handful appeared across the entire sector.
It was a creature resembling a scorpion, though it was more than twice the size of a Roach.
[Name: Defiler]
[Length: 5–8 meters]
[Role: Viral Support Unit]
[Armament: Dark Swarm, Plague]
[Description: Once a premier support unit for the Swarm, the Defiler has gradually been phased out during evolution. In its heyday, the Swarm hatched these "cancer factories" to harass enemy forces.
The Defiler can emit biochemical toxins to erode an enemy's vitality, and it can release a swarm of microscopic insects to degrade enemy aiming accuracy. Slow-moving and clumsy, Defilers are vulnerable, especially to long-range or aerial strikes. Therefore, they tend to stay behind the vanguard.
Defilers also consume massive amounts of energy to produce toxins, synthesizing them through tissue transformation—though sometimes, they simply devour other Zerg to rapidly replenish their energy.]
The Defiler—nicknamed the "Scorpion"—looked more like a centipede or a house centipede than an actual scorpion. Compared to their size, these units were fragile and lacked direct offensive power. Like Infestors, they were highly useful support units that had slowly been superseded, but in this specific theater of war, they were exactly what was needed.
The Succubus used black mist to blind the Swarm; in response, the Swarm would make her lose her own vision. From the Defiler's back, plumes of black cloud drifted out—these were "Dark Swarms" composed of trillions of microscopic organisms.
People often ask why the Swarm doesn't pursue "nanotechnology" to consume everything. Well, the Swarm already anticipated that; the Defiler is exactly that kind of unit. As for why they were phased out? You'd have to ask Abathur.
The Wyches, who had been reaping a bloody harvest inside their black mist, suddenly found another layer of darkness descending upon them. Their vision was severely impaired, and a high-pitched buzzing filled their ears, drastically affecting their combat performance. Even the Succubus was affected. Though her senses were sharper, allowing her to see that the mist was actually layers of tiny organisms, they were too small to be dealt with—she could swat the mist away, but she couldn't disperse it.
With both sides blinded, the battle in this sector turned into a chaotic, sightless brawl. The Succubus soon realized another force was wreaking havoc inside her body. As a Dark Aeldari who had experimented with every chemical imaginable, she knew instantly she had been infected by an enemy "virus." Her physical functions began to plummet rapidly.
This was Plague.
Without any environmental protection, the Succubus had no resistance against the Zerg's viral strains. She began to stumble, her balance failing.
"No... it shouldn't be like this. I must return and warn Archon Slacus! Otherwise..."
"You aren't going anywhere!"
An Infestor appeared at the edge of the battlefield, staring into the black mist with its innocent, round eyes. It launched a massive Fungal Growth projectile into the fray. The projectile burst, snaring every biological entity—Zerg and Aeldari alike—in place.
As the mist gradually cleared, the Succubus and her Wyches were found trapped in the sticky fungal growth, unable to move a muscle.
"Bring them all to me!"
The Infestor's neural parasite spine plunged into the Succubus's head, and it dragged her back to report to Nydusara . This Succubus had been far too arrogant. In Warhammer 40k terms, a Succubus is usually ranked alongside Chapter Masters, Elite Daemon Princes, or Ork Warlords. Had she been properly equipped with a shadowfield generator and other protective gear, she wouldn't have been captured so easily. Unfortunately, the Dark Aeldari were too arrogant; they feared only Slaanesh, viewing other daemons and xenos as beneath their notice.
The battle raged on. The chaos caused by Nydusara continued to expand, and the exchange between the Leviathan and the Dark Aeldari fleet never ceased. Archons in other districts remained in their palaces, quietly watching the show without intervening.
This included the Supreme Overlord of Commorragh, Asdrubael Vect.
He sat upon his throne, a towering Haemonculus standing by his side like a loyal servant. "An interesting species, yet they lack the oppressive presence of the Tyranids."
Vect didn't particularly fear the Tyranid Swarm. He possessed a vast arsenal of Dark Technology. Before he unified Commorragh, he once gifted a rival noble a coffin-like weapon—an ancient Aeldari device that generated a black hole, consuming the noble's entire domain in an instant. He had plenty more gadgets like that; so many that even the Necrons didn't dare underestimate him.
"Is the Haemonculus Coven studying them?"
"Yes. Research data has already been submitted. They do not appear to be natural products, but rather a species created through artificial modification."
The traces of genetic engineering in the Zerg were too obvious. Most Zerg units didn't even have reproductive systems. Have you ever seen a "natural" species that doesn't need to reproduce? Without reproduction, how do they produce offspring—do they drop spores and grow like Orks?
"Artificial modification... that leaves too many possible suspects. Regardless of who created them, their combat performance is decent. Is there a way to make them serve us?"
"We have yet to capture any production or command units. Beastmasters can control them through chemicals and mechanical devices. They seem to be driven by a specific signal; the Coven is researching that signal, but there are no results yet."
Even without mentioning the Zerg, the Coven already had "offline" Tyranid Hormagaunts, Termagants, and Warriors controlled by mechanical implants. It happens when they lose the connection. In the Tyranid Swarm, if a Hive Tyrant dies, the swarm often loses its goal and falls into infighting.
Vect rested his face on one hand, gently swiveling the crimson wine in his crystal glass.
"I see. Then never mind. Let's keep watching the show. Slacus surely won't lose to these bugs, will he? Many Archons have their eyes on his territory, after all."