On Stafford III, Skarssensson of the Space Wolves swung his great axe, tearing four human slaves apart.
Blood splattered across his iron-grey armor. Viscera slapped against his leather mask.
Skarssenson paid no heed. He strode forward. Chunks of flesh fell from his armor.
He let out a howl. "Follow me!"
The comm channel filled with alternating roars of rage. The reckless charge, brimming with unleashed firepower, stimulated the Wolves' bodies. Wild energy drove them and their giant wolves into a frenzy.
"They are traitors to the Allfather!"
"Kill them all!"
Skarssenson shouted loudly, urging his pack on with powerful, deafening roars.
The Wolves howled in fury, charging towards the Allfather's enemies.
Where they passed, blood flew, gore splattered.
The Wolves hated Sanchez and watched him most keenly.
Wyrdmake knew Sanchez possessed the ability to manipulate fire. To win his wager against the Wolf Lord, he would surely use this power.
Once he obtained evidence of him abusing sorcery, it would be far more valuable than that of a Librarian.
If Nareth shielded his favored son, it could incur the Allfather's displeasure.
If the Allfather punished his son, he would lose a valuable asset, and the Wolves would have their revenge.
Retrieve the Russ Wolf Helm and the Kraken's Fang, then stir up a storm of public opinion on Terra.
Wyrdmake, thinking of the rumors on Terra unfavorable to Shadows of Order and the Thousand Sons, felt his confidence surge.
Though he didn't know why there were currently no rumors about Shadows of Order, with all accusations of mutation and sorcery focused on the Thousand Sons, he believed that once he provided evidence, those behind it would surely add to their ranks.
Wyrdmake sprinted, Thunderwolves and Catachan wolves flashing past him, but they also clarified his direction.
The moment flames erupted, he trembled. Runes flashed in his helmet.
Sanchez, maintaining the third level of the Telema state of mind to resist neurotoxin invasion, raised his hand and lashed out with a whip of fire at the xenos.
Since becoming a "Conspirer," his refined control over fire had improved. He was no longer limited to the five forms: raven, ball, spear, serpent, and wall. He could shape it as needed.
The fire whip coiled around the Cerabvore. Its silvery-white body crackled.
The Cerabvore struggled to raise its arm. Lightning arced from the sky towards Sanchez.
The "Conspirer's" body flared with flames. In an instant, he briefly merged with the fire whip. His body closed the distance to the Cerabvore.
The Cerabvore shook its arm, breaking free of the whip's hold. Its crystal greatsword swept down.
The "Conspirer" raised his hand. Two fire serpents shot from the ground, forming a "Wall of Flame" around him.
The crystal greatsword struck, sparks flying.
The "Conspirer" raised his hand slightly. The wall of flame surged violently.
A series of piercing cracks ended with a single blast.
The cold sword was drawn, piercing the red line through its head.
Wyrdmake, sprinting onto the battlefield, his eyes focused.
Sanchez's use of the Wolf King's sword disgusted him, but what shocked him more was how quickly Sanchez had slain a xenos commander.
'But as the battle progresses, they will shed their restraints.'
'The Shadows of Order's keen senses will excite them in the slaughter, grieve them in a battle-brother's death, and ultimately make them lose control.'
The "Conspirer" clenched his left fist. The red flame in his palm gradually turned white. In three seconds, he completed a flame compression that, as a "Pyromaniac," had taken over twenty seconds.
A blazing white spear shot forth, trailing a chain of fireballs.
With a crack, the spear struck the personal energy shield.
As the invisible energy rippled, the chain of fireballs slammed down.
The "Conspirer" raised his sword, parrying the crystal greatsword. He raised his arm. A blade of fire flew forth.
The flame blade entered the Cerabvore's bulbous head. With a crack, pus sprayed.
His Thunderwolf mount leaped, landing on an Overlord.
The "Conspirer" constantly sensed a pair of malevolent eyes fixed on him.
He didn't need to turn to know the gaze wasn't from a xenos, but from Wyrdmake.
Using his mount's leap, the "Conspirer" observed Wyrdmake.
Since becoming a "Conspirer," his physique and flame control hadn't qualitatively changed, but his five senses, psychic perception, insight, and mind had qualitatively improved.
He saw Wyrdmake's shock, confusion, bewilderment, and a trace of anxiety.
The "Conspirer" dug his heels into the wolf. His mind raced.
Twenty-five solar days later, Wyrdmake, his expression dark, boarded an iron-grey Stormbird and left Stafford Prime.
Through the narrow viewport, he looked at the black craft around him.
Sanchez had already concluded the battle on the Prime, but his Wolf Lord had failed to defeat the smaller enemy force.
The Apothecaries had even urgently contacted him; the Wolf Lord was wounded.
Six standard hours later, Wyrdmake saw his Wolf Lord.
Two Apothecaries worked nervously around Skarssenson, scraping away disgusting pustules with scalpels. One looked up and said.
"The Wolf Lord is poisoned. The xenos toxin invaded the nerves first, taking effect, then affected the body."
"I'm fine," Skarssenson said calmly. "Sanchez. How is he?"
"He's fine." Wyrdmake walked to Skarssenson and began examining him.
"He's truly lucky. Those bulbous-headed xenos are troublesome."
"But their sorcery is far less effective on us. That's the Wolf King's gift to us."
"He's handy with that sword, but not as good as my axe."
Wyrdmake was silent for a moment before speaking.
"If you mean those pale white creatures, he killed sixteen."
"He abused his sorcery." Skarssenson's tone was certain.
"No. I got no evidence to accuse him." Wyrdmake placed his hand on Skarssenson's head. A blue light flared.
"Tell me! Tell me everything you saw!"
Three standard hours later, after questioning all the details, Skarssenson fell silent for over a dozen seconds.
"He knows the xenos well. First time I've encountered that."
"I spent too much time and effort on the slave armies."
"Indeed," Wyrdmake nodded, thinking silently.
'There's still a chance to get evidence, but I need to patiently wait for an opportunity.'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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