Vol III | Chapter VI

Author's Announcement

Give me Power Stones... or no update... yeh let me be greedy :)

UPDATE – Life is becoming busy so despite the overflowing PS, I'm too occupied at the moment!

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸

"What?" the muscular man with tattoos spat with a scowl as he eyed the cosplaying freak standing tall in front of him. The man growing uneasy, despite the brave bravado he had ongoing – especially when those who had gone before him to the room alone had all shrieked piercing screams, until… nothing but silence.

He wasn't scared, he believes. Throughout his whole life, even ranging to when he was a kid, he had been too big a size for his age and he took advantage of it and did everything he ever wanted. He was no pushover; he knew that and he was. Even when he had been against the toughest scums and thugs in Gotham, and when he maybe even worked with the big shots – like Black Mask. He had never been afraid, despite knowing the risks of working with the big fish kind of type.

But this. When he was restrained to be completely vulnerable and exposed, perhaps it'll be the first time he'd be sweating over the sensation of fear than the time he'd spent in the gym. He looked forward to it, which would become the only regret that he'd curse for the rest of his life.

"Nothing" the soldier shrug nonchalantly before simply bitch-slapping him across the jaws with a clenched fist. Immediately, blood began to pour from his busted lips, and even colored yellow teeth from smoking to red because of it. "W-what the fuck?! You didn't even ask any question!" his mouth spat blood as he yelled furiously and bulging eyes in a state of shock at the unreasonable logic.

Despite the howls belonging to the man strapped to the chair, the soldier remained stoic; unbothered nor fazed by the scene playing in front of him. Then again, just like before, the soldier gave no warning nor sign before simply punching the man on the nose, perhaps breaking it due to the crushing sound that resonated when his gloved fist made impact.

Hurtful groans cried throughout the room as the man wiggled to break free from the straps that bind him, but to no avail. "Crazy. You're fucking crazy! You sociopathic fuck!"

The man drooled with a mix of blood and spit as he talked, only for another assault to strike the poor man that couldn't even protect himself to defend himself or fight back. Maybe if it was an honorable person, or had been a man prone to speaking – the story might have been entirely different. But for him, this was what was being written. (breaking 4th wall, hi)

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It hasn't been long until he was already mentally and physically defeated, heaving and covered with his own mucus and blood. It was a disgusting sight. "S-stop… please…" the man begged, since about moments ago. He had offered up all he know, all he knew, anything that could get the brute to stop. But based on the punches and torture he was still undergoing – the soldier didn't have plans on stopping anytime soon – he fears he might just be killed.

"I-I told you everything! Please! Let m-me go! I won't tell anyone! I-I'll do good from now on! Just-" he stopped mid-sentence when he saw he was about to be struck, bracing his body to endure another hit but rather than the hard excruciating strike he felt a cold breeze.

Slowly opening his eyes to take a peek, he recognized the blue stripes and black suit costume – who was standing in between him, and the man that was hellbent on tormenting him.

"I thought I made it clear not to have any funny ideas!" Nightwing yelled with justified anger at the evil that was happening right under his nose.

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸

"Hey, care to explain your reason?!" Nightwing pushed when all he was met with was silence and the nonchalant stare that seemed to bore into the back of his head. Before he could however say any more, or maybe even lash out by the way his fingers were piercing through his palm due to the twisted situation, the Watchmaster walked through the door perplexed about Dick's take on the method of interrogation.

"It is simply how it's supposedly done." Masha felt a strain on her vocal cords, as to be expected when between herself and her subordinate – she talks the most in their stead. But the explanation shouldn't have been necessary, since this 'was' how interrogation works. Yet again, perhaps in a diabolical aspect, Masha knew what'd be happening behind the closed door and didn't care to tell. Even then, why should she punish her subordinate when it was how they've done it – towards the human heretics, the Tau, and even Eldars upon capture.

But then it seemed the Watchmaster's statement had it for a hard coming, especially when Nightwing scowled at such an indifferent tone towards at least being compassionate. Then again, he had to remind himself that they were soldiers. However, that doesn't excuse their terrible actions towards an already beaten man, and so he spoke up loud and clear – something that wasn't in his character to do.

"I decide how've things done! If you don't agree, stay back and let me do it my way! Otherwise, just listen!"

Perhaps the Watchmaster had long enough been done with the charade of keeping herself composed. Just like her Grenadier, the breaking cracks in their 'civilized' manner were falling in bits and pieces over time when dealing with these naïve and foolish thinking about morals and the obstacles of over-compassion.

Maybe it was an exclusive luxury for them to be able to have the choice as such, something that wasn't necessarily available in their 'world' – in their Dark Grim Universe – where it was kill or be killed; the very phrase and notion of those words hang Humanity on the thread of survival over the countless enemies the Imperium has.

"To live another day, one must take the lives of others to do so – very much like our Imperium – yet like the lives of others… we are all much or less the same."

The Lord Inquisitor talked in such a philosophical manner it enticed Masha to a degree she could have sworn she was lost in the depth of her mind in absorbing what he has said. Taking what she's learned apart and building her own aspect of it, sneakily enough the Lord Inquisitor merely smiled as he noticed the mental capabilities she possessed.

But just as she came to from the brief flashback she's had, the criminal has somehow taken advantage of the situation that he was able to loosen the bindings while the attention was not on him. Then just like how reality was, time went by quickly as things escalated. In one moment, she was standing there arguing with the fool, and the next her Grenadier disarmed the thug only to fall to the ground bleeding profusely.

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸