Chapter 19 - Advancement of Plans

I watched as my Honor Guard ran towards the enemies in our path.

The Traitor Guard and cultists joined forces to stop my advance and take the city more easily, although they only delayed me, but I cannot say the same for the rest of the defenders.

I watched the streets of Tismator through the eyes of my Wraiths and saw how the combined enemy force slowly overwhelmed the Arbites and PDF.

It was not that the defenders were incompetent, but it was a matter of numbers and offensive capability, the upraising caught unprepared. I ordered some of my "Marines" to spread throughout the city, assisting the defenders until reinforcements arrived.

I would like to speed up my advance towards the cathedral, but the civilians under my protection slowed me down.

Looking back, I saw the many men, women, and children protected by my Marines, who used their armored bodies as large shields against enemy fire.

Hm… I need to leave them somewhere and move on, but where? I controlled my Wraiths and searched the city for a safe location. A few minutes passed until I found what I wanted.

A large building surrounded by car barricades and with Arbites protecting civilians as they entered. I made the Wraith go in and out of reality, passing through the wall and looking inside the building.

I saw hundreds of people taking refuge inside, cowering in fear, praying, hugging their families, arguing with others, or wanting to leave the refuge to help.

However, the Hospitaller Sisters who cared for the wounded on makeshift stretchers stopped them, not wanting to increase the number of wounded. The Bolters and sharp surgical equipment the Sisters carried made people leave their stupid ideas behind.

Speaking of the Hospitaller Sisters, I am glad to see that they survived the attack, they did their best to help with the medical equipment they had.

I ordered the Wraith to patrol the shelter's surroundings and notify me in case of an emergency. Therefore, I opened a map of the city in my systems and marked the location of the shelter, receiving the quickest route to the location.

BOOM!

An explosion caught my attention. Shifting my focus, I saw how the Terminators ignored the Lasfire and bullets of the Cultists and Guards and advanced at blinding speed toward the enemy fire lines.

The Leman Russ Tank firing was likely the source of the explosion. One of the Terminators swung his shield, hitting the incoming shell and reflecting it at the tank.

The tank crew tried to jump out of the vehicle, but they were not fast enough. The projectile hit the tank's main gun, piercing the armor and soon detonating in a ball of fire and shrapnel.

The flaming shrapnel pierced those who were close enough, killing or mortally wounding the Guards and Cultists.

This allowed the Terminators to close the distance seamlessly and massacre their enemies in a bloodbath, painting their blades red.

Looking back, I saw civilians looking away or watching the display in disgust, but there were those smiling at the deaths of those who had harmed them.

Maybe I should review how I deal with adversaries when there are people around; I want my "chapter" to be viewed positively by the public and the wider Imperium.

Leaving that aside, we passed the flaming and bloody remains in our path and advanced towards shelter. Nothing noteworthy occurred during the walk, the ruined streets were quiet, with explosions and gunfire echoing in the distance.

We only find the results of the battles, facades of buildings destroyed, flaming vehicles burning, bullet holes and explosion craters everywhere, and the hundreds of corpses painting the streets red, some of fighters with their faces locked in fury, or civilians with panicked looks.

Strangely, this kind of vision does not bother me all that much, but I cannot tell if it is the callous Necron side taking over, or if I am getting used to the violence and death. If I were still human, I would probably throw up.

Anyway, my Terminators or Marines easily dispatched those who got in our way. Honestly, I think I should only worry if Melta, Plasma, or Power weapons start to appear, or artillery capable of cracking a planet.

Until then, I will proceed slowly and carefully, after all, my dynasty sees no hurry on the battlefield. I took advantage of this moment of peace to reread my commotion list on my systems.

1 – Ask Angron if he is angry.

2 – Slap Gabriel Seth's baldhead.

3 – Exchange, steal, or obtain the Fulgrim clone from Trazyn.

4 – Make my own Space Marines.

5 – Collect plants for my future garden.

6 – Find Konrad Curze's head

7 – Find the body or head of Ferrus Manus.

8 – Bring back the concept of NFT and Bitcoin, defraud the entire galaxy, and disappear with the money.

9 – Create a podcast with Trazyn and Nemesor Zahndrekh.

10 - Destroy the planets, stars and moons that make up the horoscope and put an end to this nonsense finally.

DING!

A noise indicated that we had reached our destination, we turned the corner just in time to see two Arbites, one male and one female, dispatching a group of cultists with their Shotguns, and judging by the mountain of corpses in the street, they did this for time.

The Arbites took cover behind one of the barricades and fired a hail of lead, their weapons shooting with deafening booms, and tearing the cultists apart in a shower of gore and agonized screams.

One of the cultists scaled the barricade, but he did not get far as the female Arbites reduced his head to a red mush on the ground with a blow of her Power Maul.

"Greetings!" I said approaching the barricade.

Both Arbites pointed their weapons in my direction, but their trigger discipline prevented them from firing.

"Astartes?" The male Arbites asked, keeping me in his sights.

"Exactly, my name is Akatosius Uthacello, Chapter Master of the Phantom Knights. We were passing through the system when we noticed the commotion on the planet, so we decided to help." I explained, pointing to my approaching Marines and refugees.

A few minutes of silence passed, the Arbites discussed something I could not hear and spoke to someone behind the barricade, and then they spoke.

"You can enter; we still have room for a few more people." The female Arbites spoke, pointing to the building directly behind her.

"Thank you for your cooperation!" I replied, walking towards the shelter.

A truck moved, clearing a section of the barricade and allowing us to pass. I spotted more PDF and Sisters Hospitaller on the other side, probably dealing with other cultists who got too close.

I ordered my Marines to move away, allowing the Sisters to attend the civilians and take them into the shelter, but not before treating me like an angel, showering me with thanks and prayers.

That left me with the Arbites and the Hospitaller Sisters, who soon approached me.

"We did not expect your Astartes to arrive, but your help is welcome. The Emperor must have guided you here; this is a relief for the eyes." The Hospitaller Sister spoke, probably the leader of the group.

"I can say the same; after all, your beauty is a relief for sore eyes." I flirted, bowing slightly and offering my hand to Sister.

An awkward silence took over the place as everyone stared at me with wide eyes and open mouths, at least those whose helmets did not completely cover their faces.

"Excuse me?" The Hospitaller Sister responded, snapping out of her stupor.

"I'm just saying that I appreciate the beauty of the wonderful maiden in front of me." I spoke again, maintaining the same tone and pose as before, but I got no reaction and remained like a statue.

The Hospitaller Sister looked around, confused by the situation. Nearby Sisters shrugged, while others nodded and gave the Hospitaller Sister a thumbs up.

"I'm sorry, but are you confusing me with someone else? Is this some kind of test?" The Hospitaller Sister asked disconcertedly.

Analyzing my surroundings, I noticed that the Arbites, Sisters, and civilians stared at me with the same confusion and bewilderment as the Hospitaller Sister. I quickly readjusted my posture, coughing into my fist as I tried to salvage the awkward situation.

"N-no, I believe there was a small miscommunication, but leaving that aside, what is the situation here?" I asked nervously, taking a deep breath, or at least trying to.

This served as a cue for the Arbites to join the conversation and tell me most of what I already knew.

"Heretics took over communications, so we are unable to call for reinforcements; the city's automatic defenses are shooting at anyone who tries to enter, for some reason. Wave after wave of heretics are trying to overcome pockets of resistance across the city with modified weapons and vehicles. As if that wasn't enough, traitors carrying Imperial Guard equipment and true offensive capabilities joined the heretics, overcoming our defenses and sieging Saint Alexia's Cathedral."

Hm... Nothing new, maybe I should go to the cathedral and...

"Chapter Master! I know you can hear me! Come to the Basilica of the Golden Eagle and come alone! We know that you and your false angels plan to ruin our glorious plans, and we cannot allow that, can we? And to ensure that you will come…"

BANG!

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP US!"

"…You better hurry, we know you care, but my brothers are not patient like me and… DIE HERETIC!… OLCINIA, SUPPRESSION FIRE… GENA… Someone put an end to those worshipers of the False Emperor!"

Forget it, I opened the city map and searched for the basilica, marked the location, and received the fastest route.

"It seems I need to go, duty calls me. I hope you don't mind if I leave my brothers here." I spoke to everyone present.

"Do you plan to accept the cultist's demands?" The Hospitaller Sister asked me, surprised by the broadcast that echoed throughout the city.

"It's a trap." The male Arbites said.

"The lives of innocent people are at risk, I will show these heretics the Emperor's wrath. And don't worry; I have my ways of dealing with difficult situations." I responded, patting the two Arbites' heads as if they were children.

I left the shocked Arbites aside and turned to the Hospitaller Sister.

"I hope to meet you again in a more amicable situation, my fair lady." I said, bowing exaggeratedly.

"WHAT?!?" The Hospitaller Sister exclaimed, but I ran away from there towards the basilica before she processed what I said.

"Call me later!" I shouted back before disappearing around a corner.

-XXXXXX-

Once I was far enough away, I entered an alley and sent out a command.

Reality shattered and six coffin-shaped portals opened in front of me. A Deathmark stepped out of each portal, the eye in the center of their faces generating the hole in reality before its intense light dimmed and the portal closed.

The Deathmarks knelt in front of me with a fist above their chest and spoke simultaneously in a monotone voice.

"These units await your orders, Lord Ulthagakh."

"I want you to position yourself in the buildings surrounding the Basilica of the Golden Eagle, remain away from enemy eyes, and await my orders."

"Your command will be done, Lord Ulthagakh." The Deathmarks responded, standing up as their cyclopean eyes glowed, tearing through reality and opening a portal to their pocket dimension, disappearing shortly thereafter.

Now that the Deathmarks have moved on, I decided to deal with the message that appeared on my systems.

Alert, warp energy detected!

This message flashed on my systems for some time, I just did not activate my Ankh at full power due to the lack of attempted corruption and the civilians I protected, I prefer to avoid making children try to gouge out their own eyes.

I glimpsed something shiny in the corner of my eyes, so I quickly turned around with my weapons ready, but there was nothing there. However, the bright spot remained in the corner of my vision; I turned repeatedly, trying to focus on the thing that escaped my eyes.

I thought about taking control of a Scarab and seeing my surroundings from a different perspective, but the thing decided to appear as if it knew my intentions.

With a final spun, I came face to face with a ball of golden light. I tilted my head in confusion. Where did this thing come from? I found no portals nearby, and no daemons were running through the streets.

Should I activate my Ankh and banish this thing to the Immaterium? The ball of light moved away from me as if it knew what I intended.

Hm… I reached out my hand and tried to grab the ball of light, but it dodged my grasp repeatedly. I gave up my efforts and analyzed the mass of energy curiously.

Chaos is part of the warp, but not everything within the warp is part of the chaos, this thing did not seem to wish me harm, but I had my concerns.

"My Lord, we are in position." One of the Deathmarks spoke into my systems, drawing my attention.

I took control of the Deathmark and observed the world through its eyes. The Basilica of the Golden Eagle was majestic, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture made of dark marble, stone, gold, and metal that enveloped a rectangular courtyard.

Moreover, on top of a dome at the top of the basilica, there was a great two-headed eagle, made of pure gold and pointing its wings towards the heavens.

However, what caught my attention was the number of Traitor Guards waiting for me in the sections of the basilica overlooking the courtyard; they hid on rooftops, near windows, and behind pillars.

There was also a group of people kneeling next to each other, with their hands behind their backs and black bags covering their heads. The people wore vests full of wires and flashing lights, probably bombs, while a Traitor Guard stood behind each person.

Well, I need to deal with what is most urgent right now. Caring about humans will eventually kill me, but no matter how hard I try to act like a Necron, I cannot put out that human flame inside me.

I left the ball of light aside and marched towards the basilica, but I realized that the mass of energy followed me.

"If you want to accompany me, then so be it, but I will banish you with my null field if you try anything."

Strangely, the ball of light seemed to understand what I said as it floated up and down.

-Cultists' Hideout-

"My Lord, the false angel approaches the basilica!" A cultist sitting across from a cogitator spoke to the Demagogue in the hideout's control room.

"Perfect, send our failures to deal with the bastard who dared to challenge our goddess and the false emperor's worshipers in the cathedral." The Demagogue responded.

"Yes, my lord!" The cultist exclaimed, relaying orders into a vox device.

-XXXXXX-

Cultists in a secluded section of the hideout received the orders and ran toward a control panel.

By pressing various buttons and levers on this panel, metal doors opened and closed in the sewers, creating direct passages to different areas of the city.

Then, all the cultists faced each other in silence, exchanging an unspoken message.

Receiving a series of nods, one of the cultists pulled a lever on the control panel, causing large barred gates to rise in a dark corner of the sewer chamber.

All the cultists left the chamber without wasting time, pressing a button on a panel on the wall and closing a reinforced door behind them.

Then the chamber fell silent, the only noise being the rhythmic metallic click of the gates rising. When the gates fully rose, dozens of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.

-XXXXXX-

"It is done, my Lord." The cultist responded to the Demagogue.

"Good, now…"

Suddenly, the lights in the hideout went out, back on repeatedly, equipment burned out of control, monitors exploded, and sending glass, and sparks everywhere, cables snapped and light bulbs burst.

The cultists screamed in surprise or pain, in the case of those electrocuted and hit by shrapnel. Then, as quickly as it came, the energy returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

"I want a report and damage control, now!" The Demagogue ordered.

Cultists complied with orders immediately, repair teams rushed to fix or replace destroyed equipment, while cogitators who survived the damage were restarted.

"My Lord, we have lost the Communications Center and the defenses have stopped firing! Enemy reinforcements will arrive soon!" The cultist reported while sacred music played in the background.

The Demagogue clenched his fists in fury, warp energy crackling around him, slightly distorting reality as his flesh pulsed beneath his skin, causing his robes to ripple as the sound of bones rearranging themselves echoed through the room.

Then, the Demagogue took a deep breath, reciting a prayer to the Prince of Pleasure as he thought about his next steps. The warp energy disappeared, reality returned to normal, and the heavily mutated flesh stopped writhing.

"My Lord, what will we do?" The cultist asked.

"What will we do? We will advance our plans! My Blessed Blades and I will go to the cathedral and crush the corpse emperor's worshipers and hand over their broken bodies for our men to enjoy! Divert our forces to the cathedral! Where is Sabathiel and that damn Astartes?!?"

"No need to shout, we are here." A sadistic female voice responded, entering the control room.

"Where the warp were you?!?" The Demagogue demanded, pointing his staff at the Traitor Sister and the Gray Knight who accompanied her.

"Ensuring that the siege of the cathedral continues, these cultists of yours may listen to your orders without question, but I lead the Traitor Guard, they are my Warband, not yours. Unfortunately, they need to be reminded of what will happen if they fail." Sabathiel responded.

"Hump! I hope you don't disappear again, we've come too far to turn back now!"

"You've come too far! I have the resources to survive and thrive. But it's become do or die now that you've revealed yourself to the world, hasn't it?" Sabathiel responded, grinning from ear to ear, revealing her sharp teeth and serpent tongue.

"Don't think that I will die a fool! I led this cult for decades, I saw it grow and prosper! I gave my blood, sweat, and tears to get where I am!"

"Our benefactor doesn't think the same way."

"Slaanesh doesn't…"

"I'm not talking about the Chaos God." Sabathiel interrupted the Demagogue.

"What do you mean?" The Demagogue asked confused.

"Don't you think building this little cult was too easy? Look around, all these sorcerers, cultists, weapons, and equipment, don't you think it's strange that all this chaotic corruption exists on a planet so full of faith in the Emperor?"

The Demagogue went silent, thinking deeply about everything that had led him to this point. His eyes widened behind his dark veil as his hands shook in frustration.

"I would like to see you say these words when I turn this planet into a Daemon World." The Demagogue responded with barely contained anger.

"Of course, I just want you to remember that there is a line of people on this planet waiting to be in your position. We have all the time in the world, unlike you. Now, if you will excuse us, we have a skeleton to kill. We will join you at the cathedral soon." Sabathiel responded, leaving the command center and the furious Demagogue behind.

-Basilica of the Golden Eagle-

Well, here I am. My Deathmarks are in place and the Wraiths are nearby, out of reality but ready to act. Let us see what awaits me.

I stepped into the courtyard and walked towards the majestic basilica. I would have loved to visit this place at a better opportunity, but it was too late for that now. Maybe I can do a proper tour when everything calms down.

It did not take long for all the Guards to come out of their hiding spots and point their weapons in my direction. That cannot be their plan; it will take a lot more than a few Lasguns to kill me. What are they hiding?

"Come on, what are you waiting for? Shoot or say what you want!" I exclaimed, opening my arms in defiance.

Suddenly, a warp portal opened on the other side of the courtyard and two surprising figures stepped out of the portal, a Battle Sister and a Gray Knight, but with armor covered in chaos iconography, mostly Slaanesh.

"Why the rush? Have you never heard the saying? Haste is the enemy of perfection." The Battle Sister spoke excitedly, sitting on the Space Marine's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, but I'm working on a schedule, and you're wasting my time with this game!" I responded, pointing my halberd at the Sister.

"Rude, is that any way to treat a lady?!?" The Sister asked, her face contorting in indignation.

"Lady? I don't see any ladies here!" I responded, placing my hand on my forehead to shield my eyes from the sunlight and looking around.

"Hey, you! Have you seen any ladies around here?!?" I asked a Traitor Guard on the left side of the courtyard, making him jump slightly.

The guard looked around nervously, while the Sister of Battle glared at him with hatred.

"And you? Have you seen any ladies?" I asked another guard, this one watching me through the window in the right section of the basilica.

I smiled internally when the Guard did not respond and the Battle Sister growled in anger.

"Judging by the lack of response, I don't believe there is a lady here." I mocked the Sister of Battle, waving at my surroundings as I advanced through the courtyard.

"Stop right there, don't take another step!" The Battle Sister demanded, holding up a rectangular device. Simultaneously, the Guards removed the bags from the hostages' heads.

"Is that your plan? Use these people's lives as a guarantee that I will stand still while you shoot me?" I asked, ordering the Deathmarks to prepare to fire.

"No, that would be foolish, I know it takes much more than that to finish you, just as I know what your little tin men are capable of. You better not do anything stupid, because the bombs will explode if I die or the detonator is destroyed." The Battle Sister responded, snapping her fingers.

The Gray Knight raised a trembling hand enveloped in psychic energy. I raised my Halberd, preparing for combat, but no attack came.

Glowing purple runes floated above the courtyard, spinning swiftly in a shower of colorful lightning as they approached the ground with a high-pitched buzz.

A large glowing circle filled with glowing runes appeared in the courtyard as the spell touched the ground, expanding and forming a sort of arena with me in the center.

"Now meet your challengers!" The Battle Sister shouted excitedly, raising her arms toward the sky.

A muffled noise echoed in the distance, gradually getting louder. Suddenly, the ground shook rhythmically, with the noise of shattered metal and stone becoming audible, along with what sounded like screams and growls.

The noise grew louder and louder, as the tremors increased. I tightened my grip on my Halberd and assumed a fighting stance, preparing myself for what was to come as I tried to guess the identity of my enemies.

Daemons? Greater Demon? War Engines? I got my answer a few seconds later.

CRASH!

Two enormous creatures destroyed the main building of the basilica with a crash, sending a rain of stone, gold, and metal towards the courtyard. The creatures rushed forward, each as large as a Dreadnought.

Their heavy footsteps tore holes in the ground as they growled and screamed incoherently, their mouths oozed saliva from between their sword-sharp teeth, longing for their next victim, while their red, crazed eyes scanned their surroundings frantically, looking for something to unleash their anger on.

The creatures entered the circle and stopped their advance, facing me ready to attack. I took the opportunity to analyze the two monsters.

The first was quadruped, with large, sharp claws on each of the five fingers at the end of its limbs, it had bright red skin covered in dark, gangrenous holes, infected wounds, burst pustules oozing yellow goo, and bone spikes protruding from its spine.

The creature had two bloody pincers protruding from the extra arms on its back, opening, and closing repeatedly in the air with metallic clicks as its tongue dangled from its deformed mouth, full of crooked teeth, staining the floor with saliva.

The second creature was bipedal, but walked in a hunched manner, similar to a blue-skinned primate with four fingers ending in dark claws on each limb. 

Pink tentacles that whipped the air violently covered its back, while a malformed third arm ending in tentacles dragged itself along the ground weakly.

The creature had no eyes or jaw, but rather two large horns protruding from its head while its tongue remained hanging limply from its mouth.

Great, two chaos spawns to kill! At least it is not a Greater Demon; I am not ready to face something of that caliber yet.

However, that is what I am training for, I have the best body possible, but I lack technique and experience. It is time to find out if my hellish training is paying off.

"Allow me to explain the rules, they are quite simple actually. If you step outside the circle, the bombs explode, if one of your tin men got involved in the fight, the bombs explode, if you cheat in any way, the bombs explode, if my pets die, the bombs explode." The Battle Sister spoke, smiling sadistically.

"Seriously? Isn't there any prize if I win?" I asked, activating my Ankh and making the Spawns growl in pain.

"There are only three fates for those who provoke the wrath of a Chaos God: corruption, death, or something worse! Moreover, the Prince of Pleasure wants your shiny skull on a silver platter! You might as well end your charade and use all the resources at your disposal, but you would reveal yourself to the entire city, wouldn't you?"

"Well, you are a difficult person to deal with."

"What can I say? I love a good show, attack!" The Battle Sister commanded.

The Chaos Spawns roared furiously, charging forward with their claws ready to tear me apart. Simultaneously, I charged forward while swinging my halberd, the Necron side screaming in happiness at dueling such creatures.

END OF CHAPTER