Chapter 88: Carnival of the Cult of Slaanesh

The warehouse door opened, and Jacob signaled the three witch hunters to light their torches and observe the warehouse. The interior seemed ordinary, storing a large number of candles and some clothing. The only other notable features were an angel statue and a large painting depicting a grand ball.

"It doesn't seem special."

"But someone set an ambush here."

"There must be something wrong."

The witch hunters discussed.

"Of course there's something wrong." Jacob, the most experienced, disdainfully reached out and twisted the angel statue's wing.

In the eyes of the three young witch hunters, the angel statue gradually morphed into a hideous demonic figure. It still had feathered wings, but their shape and color twisted into a distorted purple. The figure had a bull's head, horns, extra limbs, and complex, filthy patterns. As the statue transformed, the large painting on the wall rotated, revealing a dark entrance.

"Jock, you stay at the entrance. We'll go inside and take a look," Jacob instructed the remaining two witch hunters.

"Understood!" The young witch hunter drew his sword and pistol, standing guard outside.

Passing through the wall, the scene that greeted the witch hunters was sickening.

Blood, corpses, and various delicacies covered the ground. The warehouse was filled with all sorts of artworks. Paintings and sculptures adorned every corner, with the most exquisite and detailed decorations. Silk cushions scattered around were surrounded by various snacks and drinks. However, upon closer inspection, the hunters noticed the statues were grotesque and twisted. The people in the paintings were engaged in obscene, depraved acts, drinking blood and loudly praising the Lord of Pleasure. Their faces, full of ecstasy, were also marked with horrific fear.

The food had long since rotted, emitting a foul stench. The drinks were all blood. The ground was smeared with various excrements, and the remains of those bitten and torn apart during obscene acts were scattered everywhere.

The two young witch hunters felt extreme discomfort, but the sheer perversity and madness of the scene also tempted them to join in. This internal conflict left them feeling out of control, their minds tortured by the madness.

"Ahhh!" One young witch hunter clutched his head, screaming in pain.

A staff struck his head sharply: "Wake up! Don't be defeated by Chaos!"

The pain and the shouted command brought the young hunter back to his senses. "Master Jacob?"

Jacob then used the staff to strike the other young hunter's head, pulling them both out of the madness. However, they were now drenched in sweat, their spirits drained.

"This is the carnival of the Cult of Slaanesh," Jacob's voice was filled with disgust and caution. Seeing the young hunters' suffering, he shook his head repeatedly. "We nearly fell into a trap. If we hadn't waited so cautiously, we would have been ambushed upon entering."

The young hunters shuddered at the thought, swallowing nervously. "Vice President, what now?"

"Strange. This is a Slaanesh cult gathering place. Why would Belter, a worshipper of Khorne, be here? Are Belter and the Slaanesh cult in league? These two Chaos gods are usually mortal enemies. How could they be working together?" Jacob pondered, recalling the events.

"It seems Belter is indeed colluding with the Slaanesh cult…" Jacob endured the stench and filth, inspecting the room. Apart from the decadent banquet hall, he found a surgery table. Next to it, a cabinet held several glass jars arranged in three rows, all containing human organs.

This was a unique and filthy technique of the Slaanesh cult. Followers would remove old, decayed organs and transplant new ones to extend their lives. Bathing in the blood of young girls and performing corrupted sacrifices were also methods for Slaanesh followers to prolong their lives.

Jacob soon found large barrels of blood and mutated, sacrificed children who had died with wide-open eyes. These children had grown tentacles, claws, or extra heads. Some no longer resembled humans at all, crawling around the room. Jacob could only draw his sword and put an end to these abominations one by one.

The other two witch hunters used their torches to burn the cursed place. Fire was the best weapon against Chaos corruption; only fire could purify it.

Jacob also lit a torch and threw it into a corner. "Burn this place down. Let's get out of here. Belter isn't here."

"Got it!" With the warehouse now ablaze, the witch hunters prepared to leave.

"Jock? We're ready to go! See if there's anything valuable to take!" One hunter collected coins from the ground, carefully pocketing them. Witch hunters, unlike knights like Ryan, had no stable income. They had no official positions, so their earnings came from loot and missions. Thus, they often looted under the guise of their tasks, taking anything valuable.

"Hurry up!" Jacob urged the two remaining young hunters quietly. Getting no response from outside, he called louder, "Jock?"

Still no answer.

Jacob and the others' faces darkened.

"Jock is silent. Boys, draw your weapons and prepare for battle." Jacob readied his large axe, instructing the remaining hunters.

The two young hunters nodded, drawing their swords and pistols, ready for combat.

Only the sound of the burning warehouse and the wind remained.

Then, laughter erupted from outside: "Hahaha! Jacob, is this the best the new witch hunters can do? I barely touched him, and he's down. Such cheap offerings, the Blood God won't care for them."

The three hunters emerged from the banquet hall to find Jock's head on the ground, his face frozen in disbelief and fear. He had been killed so quickly, he couldn't even warn them.

The intruder was tall, about 1.85 meters, with hideous mutations all over his face and body. He had horns and claws but still bore a faint resemblance to his human self. Like Jacob, he wielded an axe and a firearm. His blood-red leather armor was covered with symbols and iron rings and spikes dedicated to the Blood God.

Jacob's silent fury spoke volumes.

"Jacob, you didn't expect this, did you? You thought that after waiting for hours and avoiding an ambush, no one else would be here to greet you."

"I know you too well, my mentor. Your methods are always the same. When investigating, unless it's urgent, you'll always hide, observe, and learn the guards' routines before finding the best opportunity."

"When exploring a new area, you always leave someone outside to keep watch."

"These are the things you taught me."

Jacob finally exploded with rage, his voice filled with sorrow. "Belter!!!"

"Yes, Belter, that's my name." The intruder removed his hood, revealing a ghastly face.

Belter had once been a handsome man, a source of pride for Jacob. But seeing his current state, a deep sadness gripped the vice president of the witch hunters. His voice choked with emotion, "So this is what you've become?"

Belter's face was covered in tumors and bone spurs. His hair, growing and falling out wildly, was now like chains piercing his skull. His eyes burned with a brass-colored flame, clearly marking him as no longer human.

"Indeed, this is the perfect me. My master granted me new life, revealing the true meaning of existence," Belter said, gesturing in reverence to his master.

"Then I have no choice but to destroy you utterly." Jacob, without a word, loaded his firearm with mercury bullets and drew his axe. "No more words, Belter. Show me what the Dark Gods have taught you!"

"As it should be." Belter knew his mentor's hatred for Chaos. He never entertained the notion of trying to convert Jacob to Chaos.

The only option now was a fight to the death.

Belter had not come alone.

Accompanying him were numerous terrifying creatures, all once human but now known as the Forsaken.

These were cultists who had fallen to Chaos for various reasons. The Dark Gods were losing interest in them, leaving them as mindless monsters. They attacked with mutated limbs and jaws, desperate for the Dark Gods' favor. Most had lost their sanity, driven only by bloodlust and hunger, and the fear of becoming Chaos Spawn—mindless blobs that would explode in battle, serving Chaos one last time.

"For the Blood God! Blood for the Blood God and glory!" Belter waved his hand, and the frenzied Forsaken charged at the remaining witch hunters.

In the burning warehouse, the hunters and the Forsaken clashed.

Jacob led the charge, his movements swift. The first Forsaken raised its pincers at him, but Jacob was faster. A silver flash cut through the creature, severing it from shoulder to abdomen before it could strike.

The hunters fought fiercely, their experience showing. Against the Forsaken, they raised their pistols, the deadly mercury bullets exploding heads. In close combat, their silver swords were lethal, enhanced against Chaos creatures. In the dark cave, under the firelight, the hunters battled the Forsaken.

Jacob's axe moved with deadly precision. He decapitated one Forsaken, then swung back to sever two tentacles. Spinning, he fired his pistol, taking down two more foes.

Jacob's relentless assault caught the attention of all the Forsaken. They craved the Dark Gods' favor, drawn to Jacob. He showed no fear, firing his seemingly endless pistol, taking down three more Forsaken.

This was the mastery of a veteran hunter. Even while attacking, Jacob reloaded his pistol with lightning speed, honed by decades of practice. His gunfire never ceased.

"Argh!!" A scream caught Jacob's attention. The elderly witch hunter's eyes widened in rage.

A young witch hunter had been impaled against the wall by the spike of Belter's axe. The burning warehouse was setting the hunter's clothes aflame, and he screamed in agony. "Fallen one! Your soul will be judged!"

"Oh? How does it feel for a witch hunter who purifies enemies with fire to be burned by it?" Belter laughed maniacally but quickly reached out and ripped the young hunter's heart from his chest. "Never mind, such a cheap sacrifice won't interest my master."

"Mentor, may I borrow your head for a moment?"

Jacob's expression darkened, his voice trembling with sorrow and fury. "Belter, you bastard!"

Belter's face twisted into a grin. "Yes, I am Belter. This is who I am now. My master has given me new life, showing me the true meaning of existence." He gestured grandly, paying homage to his dark deity.

"Then there is only one thing I can do—destroy you completely." Jacob reloaded his firearm with mercury bullets, his expression cold. "No more words, Belter. Let's see what the Dark Gods have taught you."

"As it should be." Belter knew his mentor well enough to realize there was no hope of converting him to Chaos. Their only option was to fight to the death.

Belter had not come alone.

Alongside him were numerous horrifying creatures that were once human but had now become known as Forsaken. These were cultists who had succumbed to Chaos for various reasons, now reduced to mindless beasts. They were desperate for the Dark Gods' favor, their sanity eroded, driven only by bloodlust and hunger. If they failed again, they would become Chaos Spawn, mindless blobs of flesh that would explode in battle, serving Chaos one last time.

"For the Blood God! Blood for the Blood God and glory!" Belter shouted, and the frenzied Forsaken charged at the remaining witch hunters.

In the burning warehouse, the hunters and the Forsaken clashed.

Jacob led the charge, his movements swift and deadly. The first Forsaken raised its pincers at him, but Jacob was faster. A silver flash cut through the creature, severing it from shoulder to abdomen before it could strike.

The hunters fought fiercely, their experience showing. Against the Forsaken, they raised their pistols, the deadly mercury bullets exploding heads. In close combat, their silver swords were lethal, enhanced against Chaos creatures. In the dark cave, under the firelight, the hunters battled the Forsaken.

Jacob's axe moved with deadly precision. He decapitated one Forsaken, then swung back to sever two tentacles. Spinning, he fired his pistol, taking down two more foes.

Jacob's relentless assault caught the attention of all the Forsaken. They craved the Dark Gods' favor, drawn to Jacob. He showed no fear, firing his seemingly endless pistol, taking down three more Forsaken.

This was the mastery of a veteran hunter. Even while attacking, Jacob reloaded his pistol with lightning speed, honed by decades of practice. His gunfire never ceased.

"Argh!!" A scream caught Jacob's attention. When he turned, the sight that met him filled him with rage and sorrow.

One of the young witch hunters had been impaled against the wall by Belter's axe spike, his clothes set ablaze by the burning warehouse. He screamed in agony, "Fallen one! Your soul will be judged!"

"Oh? How does it feel for a witch hunter who purifies enemies with fire to be burned by it?" Belter laughed, but then quickly reached out and ripped the young hunter's heart from his chest. "Never mind, such a cheap sacrifice won't interest my master."

"Mentor, may I borrow your head for a moment?"

The remaining two witch hunters, seeing their comrade's fate, fought with renewed desperation. Jacob, consumed by rage, charged directly at Belter, swinging his axe with all his might. 

Belter parried the blow with his own axe, the two weapons clashing with a thunderous sound. "Come, mentor, let's see if you still have what it takes!"

Jacob's face was a mask of fury as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. Belter, matching him blow for blow, grinned maniacally. "Yes, this is the power of the Dark Gods! Embrace the chaos, Jacob!"

"I will never fall to chaos!" Jacob roared, his axe slicing through the air with deadly precision.

The battle raged on, the two legendary fighters locked in a brutal duel, surrounded by the burning warehouse and the carnage of the Forsaken and witch hunters.

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