Blood Strike

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Part Three

 

A dark corner of Terra thousands of years in the future. More civil wars have come and gone. Xenos have carved a deep notch into the heart of the Imperium of Mankind. The story takes place in a junction called the Gateway.

 

A black ship hovered over the center of the desolate town lowering a long plank from the bottom of it's berth. An old man clad in black wearing a crimson robe walked along the elongated path descending to the earth. His face was scarred and he wore his long white hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Hilts of large pistols bristled from under the robe and a small silver Rosetta was pinned on the high collar of his black body glove. Behind the Inquisitor trailed a bodyguard of Marines wearing golden armor. He stepped off the end of the plank touching on a barren street. The Marines encircled him holding their weapons tightly across their chest plates. Each Marine had a ruby facetted in the shape of a shining blood drop fastened onto their golden helmets. The Inquisitor paused for a brief moment to taste the air running his tongue over his fangs. There was a tavern located across from the dark portal. "Let's hope for a good match. A little bit of luck can go a long way." He smiled briefly then pulled the hood over his head.

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The gang plank folded upon itself pulling back into the belly of the black ship. The spacecraft seemed to shudder as a dark wash of muted colors played across the bow then it dissolved, hiding itself in plain sight. Crews of xenos roamed upon the earth crawling over the broken ground. The black ship's klaxons began to sound filling the air with harsh noise. Spectral lights filtered down through the haze spotlighting the aliens. The Inquisitor made the sign of pacification then began to walk towards the tavern while surrounded by his retinue. "They are harmless to ones such as us. Ignore them for now." Smoke and shrill noise veered out from the doors of the pub. Pushing first door aside the Inquisitor signaled again for his Marines to be battle ready. The sergeant pulled back the breech of his golden bolter and primed a grenade. "War and peace." said the Inquisitor as he stepped inside. The interior was dark and the smell of tarnished metal filled the air. Low tables were spread about the inner room. Some were covered by cards while others were used to display exotic wares. The Inquisitor surged through the dense crowd to emerge at the oaken bar. "A shot of Bludmeister if you have it." he said. A bartender emerged to lift a heavy bottle and carefully poured a a shot into a small glass. Lifting it up to examine the mercurial liquid the Inquisitor held the glass under the soft light from a dim glow globe then tossed it down the back of his throat. "Argh!" he cried as he spasmed. "It still burns." His eyes began to glow with an inner light. He then reached out swiftly catching the bartender by the collar. "Tell me friend, where I can find Ismerlda? I have heard she haunts this joint." His fingers throbbed with raw power as he pulled the bartender closer. He looked him dead in the eyes.

 

"Over there in the corner you'll find her sire." wheezed the bartender as his sallow face turned purple.

 

The Inquisitor released his tight grip and turned to look. A woman wearing gowns of muted blue sat at a table flipping cards slowly one by one. He reached into his robe and flipped a piece of gold onto the oaken bar. The bartender looked at the image of the skull and bones impressed upon the coin and shrunk back. "Don't spend it all in one place." said the Inquisitor. He put his hands together and cracked his knuckles. "Live a little why don't you." he smirked. His fangs had descended and they glowed under the phosphorescent lights. The bartender scooped up the coin then disappeared back into the shadows.

[Brother Nathan]

have to say awsome. your writing is really comming along. though nw youve lied. this is no short story... :) just as well couse i anyway am enjoying it. keep it up! (should probably return to mine sometime but lack of replys put a downer on it....) bring it on brother!

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

The best is still yet to come.

 

Thanks bro !!

 

;)

 

G :)

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The Inquisitor watched the bartender back away then turned around to watch the woman named Ismerlda. He stepped away from the bar and his retinue kept a tight circle around him. Slowly the group made there way through the crowd shoving aside anyone in their direct path. The Inquisitor was tall for a man and stood only a little less than the height of his bodyguard. His eyes seemed to glow in the dark as he snarled biting back on the bitter aftertaste of the potent sanguine liquor. The woman looked up from her cards showing her hooded eyes. She had long red hair with strands of white pulled back in a tight barrette made of black leather and studded with small skulls fashioned from cut emeralds. Her haughty face was drawn but still beautiful. She made eye contact with the Inquisitor and flipped over tarot card from the top of her deck. The face of a leering red devil was embossed on the worn surface of the card. Quickly she placed the card back into the deck adroitly shuffling the pack. "Do I know you?" she asked in a lilting voice.

 

"Yes you do indeed." he answered as he stepped up to the low table. "It's been a long time though since we last met. To be honest I'm a bit surprised you still remember after all this time." The Inquisitor sat down upon a high stool producing a pouch of black leather. Slowly he pulled loose the tight draw strings then reached into the bag with a gloved hand. At least one ring was on each finger and one of them had been skillfully crafted into the shape of some exotic serpent biting the end of it's own tail. It's tiny chips of polished ruby eyes glinted under the dim glow globe hanging from the ceiling above the table. "Ah there it is." he said as he grasped something heavy and pulled it out. He held a polished white skull and set it on top of the table. The skull was covered in a spiralling series of long chains of the same deeply etched runic symbol. Blood stones were mounted along the temples of the skull and they seemed to glow.

 

The female seer gasped at the sudden sight of the skull then quickly regained her composure. She flipped back her long tail of hair. "May I?" she asked demurely pointing at the skull.

 

"Certainly." said the Inquisitor as he pushed it across the tabletop towards Ismerlda. "Go ahead."

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Ismerlda ran her fingertips over the top of the skull tracing along the many paths of the runic chains. Her face flushed to a paler shade then she pushed it back across the table. "It is the epitome of evil. Why would you carry something so wicked?"

 

The Inquisitor smiled as he put the skull back in the black sack. "It cannot corrupt me for I am immune to it. It is a symbol and also proof of a deed. To me that is all it is." He pulled the draw strings tight then hid the satchel under the table. "I brought it here as a sign to you as proof of what I told you so long ago. You have seen it now and cannot deny it. You know."

 

"Yes I know now, not that I ever had a doubt." replied the seer. "You have always been a trouble maker... That is certain. Tell me what you want."

 

"I need you to help me open a portal back to the past so I can return and right what is wrong. You are the only one left who remembers and those memories are the means to a path." The Inquisitor folded his hands across his chest resting them on top of his heart. "Will you help me now?"

 

Ismerlda pushed her cards aside. "I think you are insane. To return to the past with the knowledge you hold is a path to certain destruction."

 

"Look around you." said the Inquisitor. "Is this what you wanted?" His face looked like hard stone. "Tell me."

 

"Of course it's not what I wanted!" said Ismerlda. Her hands shook. "If I help you will you take me with you?"

 

"Certainly child."

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"Your word is gold." said the Inquisitor. "We must now depart this world and return to the past. You must be a fighter again if you want to come with me."

 

Ismerlda nodded her head and stood up. She narrowed her eyes and looked towards the entry door. A parcel of large aliens wearing mesh armor were pouring into the tavern. They reeked of decay and openly brandished their weapons. The leader was squat and barked unintelligible orders to his lackeys. The Inquisitor pulled back the lapels of leather trench coat gripping the pearly handles of a pair of pistols. "Step away from the doorway!" he shouted above the heavy din of the pallor in ancient Gothic. "Drop your weapons now!". The leader seemed to smirk drawing a machine gun in a sign of open dissent. "This is your last and final warning!" said the Inquisitor. The xenos clan ignored him as more of the aliens came through the doorway. "Kill the alien!'

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Ovid gave a silent signal and then his posse began to open fire. Tables were blown apart into flying debris as the bolters sang. Some of the xenos crumpled immediately taking the full brunt of the salvo while the rest dropped down into an immediate defensive stance and answered back firing their weapons. Ovid fired his custom pistols in unison blasting their heads like ripe exploding fruit. The unfortunate occupants of the tavern caught in the crossfire disintegrated as the criss crossing firepower ripped them apart. Ismerlda ducked down using the Marines as a shield. "Advance and engage." ordered the Inquisitor. The golden bodies of the Marines took a step forward lowering their bolters as they squeezed their triggers. Swirling tendrils of snaking smoke filled the room as they slowly advanced. Their bolters answered in return decimating the enemy. More of the xenos entered the pub to quickly replace the fallen. Sharp bayonets protruded from under the blazing barrels of their bolters. The filaments from the shuriken catapults harmlessly bounced off the golden armor. "Death to the eldar." said Ovid. He and his bodyguard closed off the distance between them and the xenos then their shining blades began to rip and sunder through the enemy's mesh armor spearing internal organs and splayed bloody visceral upon the floor.

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"Protect the woman!" shouted Ovid above the heavy din of gunfire.

 

There came the sound of a heavy explosion and the rooftop was blasted off from the tavern. Starlight filtered through the thick coils of greasy black smoke. More of the golden Marines descended through the darkness above riding down through the night thermals on their jump packs. They carried short bolters fastened to their wrists and pumped shots into the eldar. One of the Marines carried a bright red standard with a golden symbol of infinity stitched into the rolling crest. "Andromeda reporting for duty!" shouted the standard bearer through his vox. Above the angels the black ship floated firing it's heavy bolters into the horde. It could be seen that it was an ancient Thunderhawk. The Sanguinary Guard dove into the melee pulling forth their long swords.

 

"It is a day unilke any other." said the Void Walker as he shed his long coat. "It is a day reckoned unto the past." The Chaplain flicked off the sight caster revealing his true identity. He and his posse burst through the mass of xenos stabbing at point blank range with their long steely knives. More of the eldar poured into the fight to buffer the sudden counter attack. One of the Sanguinary Guard loosened his infernus pistol blasting the head off the closest xenos. There came a dizzy warcry from War Bellum. It pierced through the crowd knocking them back against the walls like a wailing banshee. "You cannot stem what is to happen now." shouted the Void Walker. "The past will be revealed!"

 

"That is your wish but it is still in the fray." said a tall eldar wearing a suit of finely etched wraithbone armor. "I have something to say about that too." His long arms were both fitted with sharp sabers and he folded into the fight like a daemon. "It is I, Drachenfel, one whom you unleashed so long ago. Your desire is a sin."

 

"Then fight me and me alone." replied the Void Walker.

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Drachenfel soared above the crowd flaying his sabers as he sailed through the open air. The Sanguinary Guard trained the sights of their short barrels on the Phoenix Lord dispensing exploding shots. Drachenfel dodged the salvo with ease spinning in place then dropped down beside the Blood Saint landing with a soft thump upon the rutted floor. "You've become more than just an annoyance. It's time to end this charade."

 

The Void Walker drew his Crozius Arcanum letting the razor sharp wings spread out to full effect. Immediately the Chaplain stepped into the wake left behind by the lithe form of Drachenfel and slashed at the Phoenix Lord in a wide arc. Drachenfel rolled away from the blow tucking himself into a tight stance, his left left saber tipped up deflecting the strong blow as if it were nothing more than a gentle breeze. "You're fast, that is certain." said Drachenfel "But I'm faster." His sabers shot out crossing each other at their extended points caught the haft of the Chaplain's weapon. The Void Walker grunted as he wrenched his Crozius free and kicked out simultaneously catching Drachenfel in the gut. The Phoenix Lord toppled over then immediately righted himself landing in a defensive crouch. "First strike landed by the enemy. Well done old man." sneered the ancient eldar.

 

"Even a Phoenix Lord can die." whispered the Void Walker. "That is your first and final warning. Disengage now and I'll let you walk."

 

Drachenfel felt a touch of anger surging in his blood. "You arrogant fool." he hissed. "You are nothing." came the cold reply. Drachenfel suddenly exploded launching a well timed series of hard blows raining them down upon his foe. The Void Walker turned in place with practiced grace blocking each and every blow. Again the Phoenix Lord sprang forward running his sharp pair of blades across the Chaplain's armor. Sizzling hot sparks drew off the edges of the short swords as they scoured the harsh black armor. The Void Walker brought the butted end of his hilt down hard catching the Phoenix Lord square in the eldar's face breaking his nose. Blood sprayed out as Drachenfel snorted spewing out bits of broken bone. "First blood to me." said the Void Walker calmly.

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Drachenfel fell back away from the Blood Saint criss crossing his blades to shake off the inevitable return attacks. He felt light on his feet as he retreated into the inner depths of his dark cadre. More and more of the eldar filled the ruined tavern pressing against the rage. The Thunderhawk suddenly ignited a row of bright underslung flashing tube lamps blinding the xenos. It's heavy bolters lashed out decimating them in a bloody swath of gore. "You have taken this round with your surprise attack." shouted Drachenfel above the din of the heavy guns. "Go on now. I'll see you soon enough on the other side." The Phoenix Lord disappeared within the swirling mists as the eldar disengaged leaving the scene just as quickly as they had entered the fray.

 

The Thunderhawk lowered it's forward ramp and the Blood Saints slowly stepped back onto the egress ascending into the safety of the armored carrier. The Chaplain was the last to board standing on the lip of the ramp watching in silence as the ramp pulled shut.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

+++

 

The Blood Saints battle barge, the Ancient, maintained a low geosynchronous orbit with Terra. There was less than a full company of Marines onboard and a small skeleton crew consisting mostly of slaved servitors manned the spacecraft. The Void Walker stood in front of an iron bound pulpit and looked down upon the contents of a crate that had been recently opened. A Techmarine sorted through the packaging carefully lifting a sealed tube from within the container. "This is what you've been looking for sir." His servo arm slowly extended gently placing the tube on a soft rubber pad fitted on top of an examination table.

 

The Chaplain walked over beside the Techmarine. "Brother Aden go ahead and open it now."

 

Pulling a small vial of gold from his belt the Techmarine cracked open the thin seal then poured the sepid blood into a vented hole in the side of the tube. The cylinder immediately began to glow and the top popped open. Aden turned the tube on it's side and let the content slide out onto the rubber pad. It was a strange looking mechanism that twisted about as it's long spindly mechanical limbs unfolded propelling itself into an upright position. The golden figure of the infinity symbol tipped up and began to slowly revolve around the thin stem anchored to it's midpoint. "It appears to be in working order." said Aden as he stepped back to make more room for the Chaplain.

 

"Indeed it is." replied Ovid. "Call our strike team here now. We will proceed immediately as planned."

 

A shrill klaxon sounded once then a metallic voice broke into the solitude of the chamber. "Commander." spoke the harsh voice through the grill.

 

"Yes?" replied the Chaplain.

 

"Eldar harrier craft are inbound." came the voice in return.

 

"Maintain the shields and prepare the cyclonic torpedoes. You know this drill."

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A large vidscreen descended from the ceiling displaying the rapidly approaching eldar craft. Ovid looked up at the screen for a brief moment then return his attention to the mechanism slowly spinning on the table. A pair of doors opened silently sliding apart. Ismerlda entered with a Sanguinary Guard on either side. Both of the veterans had replaced their jump packs with the more conventional backpack. The witch was dressed in a midnight black body glove that shone under the light from the dimmed vidscreen. Her taut muscles rippled under the webbing as she entered the examination chamber.

 

"Androcles told me you wish to speak with me." said the Chaplain. The Void Walker towered above the lithe assassin. "What we have here before you is the last known functional Infinity Gate. We can move through time, space and even across inter dimensional boundaries with this device. You have been briefed on our mission objectives. Time is now at a premium so whatever you have to say you'll have to state it succinctly. I know this is very important to you. You have my full and undivided attention."

 

Ismerlda licked her thin red lips and softly cleared her throat. "What you plan to do is akin to some unfathomable sin. To travel backwards in time with your vast array of knowledge can lead to consequences too dreadful to even contemplate. Many things will be irrepairably altered... I'm sure you know that is true." The assassin pulled on her skull mask and spoke through its vox. "While I know you are extremely devout and chaste even one such as yourself will be sorely tempted. That said knowing what you told me so very long ago to be true I will accompany you on this journey and you will have my complete trust. That is all."

 

The Chaplain nodded silently then pointed at the Infinity Gate. The portal had opened and cold tendrils of silky freezing mist rolled out from the dark void. "I only ever made one big mistake as far as I'm aware." said Ovid. "This is my last chance to honor a promise I made and right that wrong. Certainly there will be change as a result irregardless of whatever might come to pass back in time. All we see now before us may be wiped away as if none of this had ever occurred. Know that you and I will remember though if by chance we either manage to survive this dreadful journey. It is fate! Blood Saints, Blood Angels and all of our successors have a deep mystical streak within all of us. We believe that through our deeds things can be made better again. That is our creed." The Chaplain pulled on his skull helmet and took Ismerlda's gloved hand in his gauntlet. "It is time to go now."

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"Hold on tightly to my grip or you will be lost. The Techmarine programmed the Infinity Gate for the exact coordinates of the drop using a sample of my blood for the instruction set. You will feel a sense of euphoria and a loss of your senses as we cross over and back." said the Chaplain as the pair was engulfed by the abyss. There came the sound of a howling gale and the air grew frigid. Ismerlda heard a shrill scream from within the void. Bright pricks of flashing light erupted cascading against each other. Time began to slow down then pitched forward again violently. The only physical sensation was the hard grasp of the Blood Saint. "I need you..." his voice boomed above the insane madness. Heavy weight pressed against her mind as the void sucked at her being. The assassin felt as if she was ripped apart into a million tiny pieces and scattered across the cold rent. Intense pain blossomed in her mind shredding her sanity. Ismerlda focused on her training back within the temple from a long age ago. Slowly the pain began to subside and was replaced by a sense of spinning in place. The assassin held her breath and counted backwards from one hundred to zero then counted back up again. The shrill scream subsided and was replaced by the sound of a steady hum that quickly grew in intensity to a rage. Suddenly she hit the ground and rolled into a tight tuck. Cold light filled her eyes as Ismerlda felt her weight return. She vomited a copious amount of bitter bile and reached up with her free hand to wipe at her chin. The skull mask bit at her then stopped. Looking up to take in her surroundings she felt heavy with form. The transfer was complete.

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Ismerlda took in her immediate surroundings finding herself in the chamber of the dead Chaos sorcerer Woden. Her wrists were chaffed from the tightly pulled twine the Blood Saint had used to tie her hands behind her back. She rubbed at the raw welts then pulled her gloves back on. She could hear the heavy tones of several Chaos Space Marines talking just beyond the closed doorway. The assassin quickly formed a mental image of the wizard as she injected herself with a heavy dose of the polymorphine. She could feel her skin crawling as her body began to shift and morph. Bones and joints twisted about taking on a new shape and long white whiskers sprouted from her face. Carefully removing her skull mask she placed it an open drawer then pulled the long tattered robe of Woden about her growing frame. The voices grew louder and there came another knock at the door. "Wait a moment." said the doppelgänger as it lifted the long black staff from the floor. The shape shifter slowly made it's way to the door and grasped the brass handle pulling it inward. A party of five Knights of Blood clad in blood red armor stood just beyond the opening. "Yes, what do you want?"

 

"The counter offensive has begun well in earnest now." said one of the traitors. "You have been summoned to the field for battle."

 

"How goes it? I've been in embraced in dark communion with some denizens of the warp. "The Warlord's last command was to summons more of Khorne's children."

 

"Khane has left with his posse of dark champions to greet the enemy in central ground. We must leave immediately to form a second wave. You have been chosen to lead." said the dark Knight.

 

Woden grimly smiled then drew his staff tightly to his chest. "So be it."

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"Come as you are." said the doppelgänger.

 

"What is that?" asked the traitor standing next to her.

 

"How many are left here in the compound?" she replied mimicking the wizard's voice.

 

"The main assembly is outside. Only a few will be left behind to guard." he said.

 

"That's all I needed to know." said Ismerlda as she brought forth the nozzle of her neural shredder releasing a spray of liquid plasma. The vaporous cloud shot out consuming the traitors before they could react. The Callidus threw off the black robe and turned back to re enter the dead sorcerer's chamber. Her skull mask still rested in the open drawer. Ismerlda scooped it up and pulled it back on. The lenses registered her dreadsight as she carefully scanned the room. Traces of residual ether flared then died out as the assassin took it all in. It was just as if nothing more than a passing moment had occurred but she knew better and sensed the changes. The smell of the old Blood Saint filled her nostrils. He had been here just a few moments ago. Involuntarily she balled her left hand into a fist. It was just as he had planned.

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Ismerlda left the chamber closing the door behind her. Her body felt younger and stronger. The assassin could felt the near lethal dose of stimulants she had just injected coursing through her tight veins. Another dose of the polymorphines she injected into her taut bicep to take on the shape of some lowly traitor. Her body glove reacted quickly taking the shape of crimson armor. Ismerlda looked down upon the rune of her right shoulderpad cut in the likeness of a Juggernaught's grotesque head. The likeness was near perfect. It was time to complete the new objective.

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+++

 

Brother Champion Saul Atreedes suddenly felt a heavy arm wrapping around his neck pulling tight. The Grey Knight relaxed and sank back into the hard grip. He spun around thrusting his sword between the press forcing his opponent to withdraw. Saul felt his mind go blank for a moment losing control. The secret enemy punched him in face bashing his nose with a crushing force. Again he relaxed as he stepped back to separate himself. The grenade slipped away rolling on the ground. His assiliant was very quick and grabbed him by the collar throwing him away from the bomb. Saul attempted to shout but his tongue felt heavy like molten lead. He could see his enemy now making out the suit of blackened terminator armor shifting in the first few rays of the morning light. "I know you." he finally managed to say.

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Saul recognized the Blood Saint. It was the one commonly referred to as Void Walker, the same Marine that had assassinated his brother. He felt his blood stir with intense anger but he remained true to his training and kept calm. His chapter's mantra was to always make sure you had overwhelming odds in your favor before engaging on the field of battle. He had been warned prior to his departure for this forsaken world not to take this enemy lightly. The Blood Saint was well known for his cunning and did not fight fair, nor did the Grey Knights either but this presented much more a challenge. Saul and his team had spent over a year in preparation and the intense training sessions had lead to the deaths of several of his party. Things had not proceeded exactly according to plan. The arrival of the excommunicated Knights of Blood had caught everyone by surprise. So they had been forced to adapt much to their annoyance. Saul realized that the possibility of heavy losses might be necessary to fully foil the primary objective of the Blood Saints. The Void Walker had slipped something around Saul's neck during the first engagement but he blocked it out and focused on winning the fight. The Void Walker now stood between him and the dropped stasis grenade. The Chaplain had activated his huge power fist and stood there as if taunting him.

 

"I have the higher ground both metaphorically and literally." said the Blood Saint. " You cannot win now. I have beat you at your own game."

 

"There are plenty more of us here and they'll be arriving shortly. You might indeed beat me but you lose this little war of yours." replied the Brother Champion through gritted teeth. "I only have to delay you a bit longer and we shall see the day."

 

"Are you so certain?" wryly asked the Chaplain. "I'm more than willing to stand here and wait. I think either you bluff or are mistaken. Others beside your kind can both see the strands of fate as well as manipulate them. The difference is we Blood Saints act accordingly while you only act for yourselves and that has always been your undoing." The Void Walker sneered for a moment then continued to complete his address. "I know you want to ignite the grenade. Come to me."

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There came the sound of bolter fire as several groups of Chaos Space Marines clustered through the ruined streets spilling out on the smoking plaza. Their blood red armor shone under the bright rays of the pale rising sun. The Blood Saint quickly bent over and scooped up the statis grenade dropping it in a leather sack hanging from his belt. The Warlord shouted above the din calling his Marines to him. Sam grabbed Kane in a tight bear hug cutting off the Warlord's voice. The Void Walker looked back in front of him to see that the Brother Champion had disappeared. More parties of Chaos Space Marines rambled through the open breaches filling the square as they converged upon the fight.

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More and more Chaos Space Marines converged upon the plaza like a huge column of angry red giant ants. The Void Walker watched as they piled into the fight striking at the last of the two Knights of Blood. There came a silent cry as Sam shouted into the void letting loose one last epidemic spell of disaster. The ground shook but could not displace the vast numbers of traitors. Ovid heard Kane shouting battle orders again and suddenly the teeming masses of Chaos began to surge towards him. There were too many. He had no choice other than fall back or he would quickly be overrun. The Chaplain broke into a sprint running back behind the crooked tower to separate himself from the enemy. Their bolters fired filling the dawn air with streaming streaks of bright blue sparks. He found a dark shadow and moved inside it's cold confines willing himself to dissemble and faded. Within a few moments the immediate area was saturated with the enemy as they searched. There was nothing to find beside the cold dead bodies of Purfiers left behind.