The Empire of The Multiverse

Chapter 76 - The Battle for the Quasar Enclave Part 2

"With the slumber of our Primarch, it is up to me and my battle brothers to continue the fight for the Quasar Enclave, just as our Gene Father ordered," declared 1st Captain Typhon with a sense of duty. Suddenly, an officer on the bridge reported an important discovery, "Sir, the Apostle of Khaine and the Eldranthii Farseer have been found!"

Typhon turned to the officer, his expression focused. "Good. Send me the coordinates, and we can cut off the head of the snake. The Eldranthii Farseers and the Apostle of Khaine— one, the leader of a galaxy, and the other, the religious leader, basically a walking star. The Farseers are capable of reality warping en masse, often leading the Eldranthii in a galaxy. Meanwhile, the Apostle of Khaine, the God of War of the Eldranthii Pantheon, is often the strongest in power in the galaxy. They handle battles the old way through the Duel of Champions. If there's no Custode in sight, then I, as the First Captain, will handle the duel."

"Gravewalkers, to me! Let's finish this war!" I commanded.

The Endurance, the flagship of the Death Guard, teleported to the planet called Lorka'i. Upon arrival at a safe distance, Typhon observed a massive temple dedicated to the Eldranthii Pantheon. "Blow up that temple! There is only one true God, one true Pantheon, and that is the Emperor and his Divine Family!" Typhon ordered as the Endurance and its escort ships began charging their weapons.

The weapons on the Endurance unleashed projectiles at the speed of light, a swift and deadly barrage that no planetary defense could fully withstand. The goal was not just destruction but a strategic move, a message to the Eldranthii forces and their leaders. Whether the Eldranthii Farseer or the Apostle of Khaine could defend against this onslaught was inconsequential; it was a greeting, a declaration of the Angels of Death's arrival, and a way to ensure the elimination of their targets.

As the light-speed projectiles collided with the planetary barrier, it shattered almost instantly, unleashing a surge of divine power. I sensed the Apostle's countermove. "Drop the Honkai Pylons! Lest the Farseer teleports again!" I commanded. The massive pillars descended from space, embedding themselves into the planet, causing seismic quakes. Eldranthii forces, responding to the chaos, arrived in the vicinity, only to be intercepted by the relentless Imperial Navy tailing them. In the vast expanse of space, the Eldranthii Craftworlds attempting to reinforce faced annihilation.

Observing the Eldranthii's panicked response, I knew the moment had come. Killing the Farseer and the Apostle was akin to eliminating the galaxy-wide commanders, disrupting their coordination. Turning to my Gravewalkers, the Primarch's Guards, the First Death Company, all clad in Terminator Combat Skin with enhanced weaponry fueled by larger Honkai Reactors, I rallied them with determination. "For the Lord of Death! For the Emperor!" I proclaimed. In unison, my battle brothers echoed, "For the Lord of Death! For the Emperor!" We teleported to the ground, where the Cosmic Militarum was already engaging the Eldranthii. The Men of Iron, operating the Astra Colossi, joined the fray, clashing with the Eldranthii Wraithguard in both melee and ranged combat. The battlefield erupted into a symphony of war.

Upon arriving on the ground, I beheld the battlefield adorned with multiple spires, the Aether Pylons, engaged in a clash with the Honkai Pylons. Living lightning crackled through the air as Aether particles collided with Honkai energy. It was a calculated move by the Eldranthii to prevent the Honkai Pylons from nullifying their abilities—an ingenious attempt to level the playing field against the might of the Imperium.

Observing the scene, I turned to the ground commander of the Cosmic Militarum. "Commander," I addressed. The commander saluted and responded, "Yes, Sir?"

"Do you see those spires?" I inquired.

"Yes, Sir, the Aether Pylons, Sir!" the commander affirmed.

"I do not want to," I declared. Understanding my directive, the commander swiftly took action. "Right away, Sir," he acknowledged before radioing the newly arrived artillery squad—the Celestial Void Striker Artillery. This formidable force was capable of launching light-speed projectiles within a planet, resembling glowing meteors.

I overheard the commander's clear instructions to the artillery squad, "Celestial Voidstrikers, the Astartes don't want to see those spires, and I too don't want to see them. Five minutes from now, do you understand!?" With a resolute response, multiple explosions erupted from behind us, and in the blink of an eye, glowing meteors soared overhead, hitting the shields that protected the Aether Pylons. The celestial onslaught aimed to neutralize the Eldranthii's strategic advantage, shifting the balance of power in favor of the Imperium.

Within minutes, the celestial spires, the Aether Pylons, were reduced to nothingness. The Eldranthii had miscalculated the relentless efficiency of the Imperium's response. As the remnants of their strategic advantage dissipated, the Eldranthii forces faced an abrupt shift in the dynamics of the battlefield. The Imperium, undeterred and resolute, showcased its prowess in swiftly adapting to challenges and overcoming them.

With the Aether Pylons eliminated, I moved swiftly with the Gravewalkers, seamlessly passing through walls and buildings by shifting through matter. Our ability to create wormholes allowed us to achieve lightspeed travel at a moment's notice.

After a few minutes, we arrived outside the temple. Our intended entrance was hindered by a protective barrier of divine energy, allowing only the caster to pass through. The Gravewalkers, numbering 4000 strong, followed my lead.

"Brother, the Cosmic Militarum will be reinforcing us in ETA 5 minutes. The Sisters of Battle will be joining us and dropping a Church on the false temple within 15 minutes, They request that the shielding of the Temple be disabled before they arrive," my lieutenant informed me. Nodding, I added, "Tell them that the shielding will be down even before they arrive, Brother." I nodded in acknowledgment before addressing the Gravewalkers.

"Search and destroy every enemy you encounter. Inform me immediately upon sighting the Apostle of Khaine; I will handle the duel." The mission was clear, and the Gravewalkers dispersed, executing their assigned tasks with precision and deadly efficiency.

The massive gate of the temple crumbled under the force of a colossal railgun, prompting one of the Astartes to quip, "Knock knock." The ensuing explosion rendered the entrance beyond repair, and the Gravewalkers surged forward, impervious to the return fire of the Eldranthii warriors within. The Terminator Combat Skin, a testament to the Imperium's technological prowess, absorbed even the heaviest blows, from near light-speed projectiles to nuclear explosions.

Leading my battle brothers through the smoke and debris, our progress was unhindered due to nanomachines saturating the planet, providing real-time information. In no time, we pinpointed our targets. The Eldranthii, quick and agile, attempted to evade our onslaught by switching cover, but against the Emperor's Angels, hiding was a fleeting prospect.

Striding forward as though we owned the place, the feeble Eldranthii firepower was nullified by our Tachyon Shields. One of my battle brothers' Combat Skin began to glow green. "Brothers, phase out," he commanded. In an instant, we entered another dimension, dodging the shockwave emitted by the Waveforce Armor. This advanced technology, upon reaching the critical point of energy absorption, unleashed a 360-degree shockwave. While my brothers effortlessly phased out to evade it, our enemies were not as fortunate. The battlefield belonged to the Imperium, and we advanced with relentless determination through the chaotic remnants of the temple.

Upon returning to reality, the Eldranthii resistance had been thoroughly crushed, and the once-majestic temple now crumbled around us. Unperturbed, we pressed forward, the walls painted with the blood of Eldranthii warriors, be they Aspect Warriors or mere grunts. My scanners detected a significant energy source emanating from a particular area, presumably the device responsible for the shield hindering phase-ins from the outside. I gestured to my lieutenant to shut it down, intending to take another path leading to the room where two individuals were indicated by the data.

I led half of the Gravewalkers into what appeared to be the Nave of the Pantheon. There, upon the altar, stood the Eldranthii Farseer—a figure adorned in flowing, intricate psychic robes, exuding an otherworldly aura. A finely crafted helmet adorned with elegant runes covered their head, and their eyes glowed with the wisdom of the young Eldranthii race. Beside the Farseer stood the Apostle, bearing a resemblance to an Exarch.

As my gaze met that of the Apostle, he spoke, "I was expecting a Custodian." I retorted, "Too bad, you'll have to settle for one of the Emperor's Angels," brandishing my scythe. The Apostle responded calmly, "Very well, Angel, or should I call you the Astartes? You don't look that strong."

My battle brothers began to back off, their attention entirely focused on the Farseer. Simultaneously, they planted reality anchors to dampen and weaken the effects of any reality warping the Farseer might attempt.

My battle brothers began to back off, all their attention focused on the looming confrontation with the Farseer. They strategically planted reality anchors, intending to dampen and weaken the effects of any reality warping the Farseer might attempt.

Just as the confrontation was about to escalate, the shield covering the entire temple was suddenly down. From a distance, a church came crashing in, accompanied by holy hymns praising the Emperor. The Sisters of Battle had arrived, their battle cry echoing, "Death to the False Gods!"

Yet, my focus remained on the Apostle, now transforming into the Avatar of Khaine. The Apostle's face twisted into a monstrous visage, and it uttered, "Come! Fight! And die!" Knowing my limitations, I opted for ranged combat and shot the Avatar with a flayer. I was well aware that going toe-to-toe with what could be considered a god in melee combat would likely be a futile endeavor.

The unexpected speed of the Avatar of Khaine caught me off guard. Astartes were engineered to react to lightspeed attacks, but this foe surpassed our typical adversaries.

Captain Typhon engaged the Avatar in a fast-paced, acrobatic battle. The clash echoed through the massive temple as they moved, breaking through walls and traversing the space. Typhon, wisely, kept his distance from the swift and formidable Avatar of Khaine. All around them, Gravewalkers clashed with Eldranthii Aspect Warriors, creating a chaotic dance of combatants.

Amidst the skirmish, the Gravewalkers strategically advanced, pressing toward the Sisters of Battle's Church, seeking cover as they had already captured the Farseer in Stasis. The Eldranthii Aspect Warriors fought fiercely, attempting to impede our progress. Simultaneously, my attention remained divided, All of this unfolded within the sacred confines of the massive temple dedicated to the Eldranthii Gods.

In the intense melee between Captain Typhon and the Avatar of Khaine, the unexpected happened. The Avatar, moving with divine speed, delivered a powerful vertical slash across Typhon's abdomen. The attack cut through the layers of Tachyon Shields and Combat Skin, showcasing the formidable strength of the divine force behind it. Even the most advanced protection couldn't entirely shield against the power of a true divine entity.

Despite the severe injury, Typhon, showing remarkable resilience, used his Scythe to pull the Avatar towards him, attempting to capitalize on the moment. The Scythe, infused with the essence of death, proved effective, causing a significant wound to the Avatar. However, the Avatar of Khaine swiftly countered, gripping the Scythe's handle and breaking Typhon's hand that held it. A powerful kick sent Typhon crashing through multiple walls, leaving him incapacitated on the ground.

Upon closer inspection, a distinctive dent shaped like a foot on Typhon's combat skin revealed the tremendous force exerted by the Avatar's kick. Meanwhile, the wound inflicted on the Avatar by Typhon's Scythe refused to heal. The Avatar muttered about the "Law of Death," signifying that the Scythe's death energy prevented the usual divine healing. Despite the Avatar bleeding, there was an ominous realization that the more it bled, the stronger it became, fueled by the very essence of war and conflict.

As chaos unfolded in the temple, the Avatar of Khaine, now a relentless force of destruction, wreaked havoc upon the Astartes and Sisters of Battle. The Gravewalkers, despite their formidable might, couldn't escape the deadly strikes of the divine entity. The Avatar cleaved through Astartes and Sisters alike, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

In the midst of this chaos, the Cosmic Militarum reinforcements arrived, providing a momentary respite. The Lieutenant of the Gravewalkers, realizing the need for a strategic approach, ordered the Cosmic Militarum to focus their firepower on the Avatar of Khaine. The large, bleeding figure became the prime target for Flayer beams and other devastating attacks. However, the Avatar, fueled by the essence of war, appeared to withstand the onslaught, shrugging off the molecular flaying as if it were a mere inconvenience.

Despite the challenges posed by the divine entity, the arrival of the Cosmic Militarum allowed the Imperial forces to regroup and assess the situation. They understood that facing such a powerful foe required more than conventional tactics.

The battlefield outside the temple became a desperate dance of sacrifice and strategic maneuvering. Gravewalkers and Sisters of Battle threw themselves into the fray, a macabre offering to keep the Avatar of Khaine entangled in the fight. Their desperate struggle allowed the Imperium's forces to deploy a temporal trap, freezing the godly entity in place for a fleeting moment.

"Send him to Kingdom Come! Artillery Squad, now!" the commanding voice echoed through the tumultuous battlefield. In a swift response, streaks of light-speed projectiles from the Celestial Void Striker pierced the sky, accurately targeting the ensnared Avatar. The strikes hit with an explosive impact, melting the ground beneath the godly entity due to the friction generated at such incredible speeds.

As the dust settled, the Avatar of Khaine stood damaged but not defeated. A severed hand and fractured armor were mere inconveniences for a divine being of war. The Commander's curse lingered in the air as the godly foe regenerated before their eyes.

"Damn False Gods," the Commander muttered, capturing the frustration of the moment. The battlefield, a chaotic theater of war, showcased the relentless struggle for dominance in the Quasar Enclave. The fate of this Eldranthii fortress galaxy, guarding the crucial Aether Pylons factories, hung in the balance. The war for the Quasar Enclave had found its focal point in this pivotal battle, where the forces of the Imperium clashed with the Eldranthii for control and supremacy.

In the midst of the chaotic battlefield, a decisive transmission echoed across all channels, commanding a full retreat. The Cosmic Militarum, the Sisters of Battle, and the Gravewalkers received the same order: "All Units, inside and outside the Temple, retreat. The Adeptus Custodes will now handle the situation." The words carried an air of authority, compelling the Imperial forces to disengage from the relentless struggle.

As the forces withdrew, a single portal materialized directly in front of the towering Avatar of Khaine. From the shimmering gateway emerged a solitary figure—a Custodian, adorned in golden armor that radiated a divine aura. The Custodian gazed up at the colossal form of the Avatar, seemingly unfazed by its intimidating presence.

"Another Avatar of False Gods," the Custodian declared with an air of disdain, his gaze fixed upon the towering god of war. 

Annoyance flickered across the Avatar of Khaine's features, a rare occurrence for a divine entity accustomed to unchallenged superiority. In an instant, the colossal sword of the Avatar swung downward, aiming to cleave the Custodian in twain.

However, time seemed to distort as the Custodian moved with unparalleled speed. In the blink of an eye, the Guardian Spear twirled with masterful precision, and the Avatar of Khaine found itself severed in half instead. The silence lingered as the Custodian stood amidst the aftermath, the divine foe now broken at his feet.

"In the Emperor's name, none shall survive," the Custodian muttered, his words carrying a weight that echoed through the silent battlefield. With a twirl of his Guardian Spear, he returned to his neutral form, embodying the unyielding might of the Adeptus Custodes in the face of divine adversaries.

The sudden appearance of the Custodian, Alexandros Castellan, was nothing short of a celestial intervention. His swift and efficient movements left the battlefield littered with fallen Eldranthii, their demise almost imperceptible to the mortal eye. The Custodian's entry into the temple marked the end of resistance, as Eldranthii warriors disintegrated before the Gravewalkers and Sisters of Battle could comprehend the sudden cessation of their adversaries.

Within the sanctum, Castellan materialized in front of Captain Typhon and his Lieutenant. His words carried the weight of imperial recognition and respect, even as he acknowledged Typhon's compromised state. "First Captain Typhon, I, Alexandros Castellan, extend my greetings in the Emperor's name. Your leadership is recognized and respected, although your state of health could be better," the Custodian declared.

Without delay, a portal to Genesis Prime, the heart of the Imperium, opened before them. A team of Apothecary Astartes from the Emperor's Sentinels emerged, ready to attend to the heavily injured Typhon. Swiftly and with practiced efficiency, they placed Typhon in a specialized medicinal pod, the technology within immediately initiating the process of stabilizing and healing the wounded captain.

The Eldranthii Farseer, now confined within a Temporal prison, stood frozen in time, held in stasis by the unwavering vigilance of two Gravewalkers. Their staff emitted a constant ray of energy, capturing the Farseer in the midst of the chaotic duel between Typhon and the Avatar of Khaine. Alexandros, his gaze fixed on the captive seer, spoke with an air of authority, "The captured Farseer will be held in prison in Genesis Prime."

Upon hearing this declaration, the two Gravewalkers swiftly and purposefully escorted the imprisoned Farseer into the awaiting portal, sealing their fate in the heart of the Imperium.

With the Eldranthii leader captured and the Avatar of Khaine vanquished, the headless state of the Eldranthii left them vulnerable. Within a single Imperial month, the once tumultuous Galactic War for the Quasar Enclave, spanning two full Imperial months, had been decisively brought to heel by the might of the Imperium.