Chapter 52: 24 My Uncle is the Incarnation of Strength

Chapter 52: 24. My Uncle is the Incarnation of Strength

The Exalted Keeper of Secrets is composed of chaotic matter, but Slaanesh, the embodiment of love and art, has infused it with wicked and exquisite magic. Consequently, it is highly proficient in spellcasting, capable of making enemies writhe in agony or spreading dark whispers of glory in their ears, constructing their deepest fears and desires within their minds to cloud their souls.

A Harvester Ballista pivoted, and a bolt struck the Exalted Keeper of Secrets squarely in the head. Enraged, the Exalted Keeper of Secrets slowly turned its gaze toward them and directly unleashed the Slaaneshi Daemon Dance. The Drukhari of that gun crew let out blood-curdling screams as they leapt into an evil, dark dance, their bones spasming until they snapped, and the Harvester Ballista itself shattered into pieces.

Ignoring the gruesome fate of that crew, the other gun crews continued to reload and fire with fearless efficiency. They intended to discharge every remaining bolt before their souls returned to the embrace of Aess-Hai.

The Exalted Keeper of Secrets blocked a bolt with its shield; the bolt pierced through the shield. It then used its polearm to swat away another bolt, only to be struck in the shoulder by yet another.

The Exalted Keeper of Secrets let out an angry roar and unleashed the Slaaneshi Daemon Dance once more, sending another gun crew to the embrace of Aess-Hai.

Once the other gun crews had exhausted their ammunition, the Drukhari brandished their serrated longswords and charged down the ramparts with howls.

While the battle on the ramparts stabilized, the fighting within the fort grew increasingly desperate.

The Triceratops went into a frenzy, charging directly at the Exalted Keeper of Secrets in an attempt to ram it back into the portal. The Exalted Keeper of Secrets leveled its polearm and impaled the Triceratops through its prized head. The beast continued to run forward a few steps due to momentum, the polearm sinking deeper and deeper, until the Triceratops collapsed onto the ground, motionless.

Dacus, having just cut down a Slaaneshi Daemonette, watched the Triceratops fall to Lileath's embrace, his eyes nearly bursting with rage.

"Fuck!"

The Slaaneshi Daemonettes fell into a state of manic ecstasy, forgetting all pain and failure, launching an even more frenzied massacre in the name of Slaanesh.

The War Hydra that Alisha had transformed into also fell into a frenzy, its five snake heads attacking the Slaaneshi Daemons wildly. The Drukhari soldiers knew this War Hydra was a transformed Sorceress, so they fought with confidence, surrounding her.

Flanes, possessed by Adrez, the Lord of Blades, went on a killing spree. A mere Drukhari, he charged straight at the Exalted Keeper of Secrets; in this moment, he was not fighting as an elf—he was not an elf at all!

Dacus swung his Messer, cutting down two more Slaaneshi Daemonettes. One Daemonette extended a long tongue to lick him, but he sliced it off before decapitating the creature instantly.

At this moment, Dacus's blood boiled; he wanted to rush forward and trade blows with the Exalted Keeper of Secrets, his mind completely clouded by fury.

Reyn, who had just cut down a foe nearby, looked at Dacus's actions with horror. Disregarding everything else, he immediately shouted for Vaut to help him drag Dacus back.

Flanes, wielding a Drukhari halberd, leaped onto the Triceratops and performed a plunging strike at the Exalted Keeper of Secrets. The strike was blocked by the Keeper's polearm. The two arms on its shoulders spread their claws toward Flanes; Flanes took a step back and thrust his weapon at the Keeper.

The Exalted Keeper of Secrets released Thousand-Face Phantoms to interfere with Flanes, striking him directly in the chest with its polearm. Complex magical runes unfolded, and a series of constantly shifting illusory images caused Flanes to lose all perception, leaving him utterly bewildered.

However, Flanes quickly broke free from the illusion, let out a roar, and attempted to parry with the shaft of his halberd. The shaft snapped upon impact, and the polearm struck Flanes's chest, sending him flying backward.

The situation was gradually turning passive, yet the Drukhari continued to fight.

***

At the highest point of the Black Ridge Mountains, the Temple of Adhez.

The avatar of Adhez, sporting long, fiery red hair, was currently working shirtless, striking an anvil. While smithing, he suddenly stopped, frozen in place, as if someone were attempting to communicate with him remotely.

"How long has it been since you contacted me? And you contact me just for this?"

"Hmph, he is your Chosen; his life or death is none of my business."

Having said that, the voice continued to hammer the iron.

"What? He knows where Vaal is? Are you sure he can get me a weapon?"

Information was actually quite isolated. Asle belonged to the Wood Elves of the Aesoloren Forest, while he belonged to Fire. Not even Asle believed him, and even if Asle did, those Wood Elves were uncertain if Deis was indeed the incarnation of Vaal. The Wood Elves believed that blind, crippled old elf was merely Vaal's Chosen. The Elven gods would not tell him where Vaal was; even if they knew, Adhez could not force the answer.

"Fine, I get it. I'll do you a favor!"

Adhez turned to his Chosen and said, "Let's go get some exercise."

The Chosen assisting him by stoking the furnace was a female Sorceress. She had graduated from the Tower of Destruction six hundred years ago and, as a follower of Adhez, had come to serve him at his temple upon graduation.

After speaking, Adhez turned and walked to the terrace, looking down at the active volcano below. Magma churned within, and upon closer inspection, one could see a Magma Dragon rolling inside.

The Magma Dragon is one of the most vicious and reclusive subspecies among dragons, with nests typically located in volcanic regions of the known world, most notably the Black Ridge Mountains of Naggaroth and the volcanic ranges of the Old World's Dark Lands.

The Magma Dragon heard the summons, rolled over once more, and took flight, flapping its wings as molten lava slid off them and splashed into the crater.

The Magma Dragon lowered its neck, and Adhez and his Chosen leaped onto its back.

The entire Black Ridge Mountains shook! The roar of the Magma Dragon echoed through the sky! A terrifying aura permeated the forests of the entire mountain range!

Dacus received the omen and roared hysterically, "Move! Get out of the way! Fast!"

The Magma Dragon dove directly from the highest peak of the Black Ridge Mountains, smashing into the fort's plaza moments later.

Annasara, who was rushing toward the scene, saw the fiery silhouette.

Alisha, who was still struggling with Slaaneshi Daemons, was thrown back by the shockwave, crashing heavily into a building and reverting to her original Drukhari form.

"Alisha!"

The Magma Dragon's foreclaw directly seized the arm on the Exalted Keeper of Secrets' shoulder, and its gaping mouth, dripping with lava, bit down on the Keeper's head. The Exalted Keeper of Secrets let out a wail of ecstasy.

Adhez swung his sword at the Keeper's claws, while the Sorceress behind him summoned the Winds of Aksha to release a wave of flame. The Slaaneshi Daemons that were still struggling to rise were instantly turned to ash, vanishing from the mortal realm.

Several Drukhari soldiers who had not been fast enough to retreat were also ignited, screaming in agony before collapsing as charred corpses.

The Exalted Keeper of Secrets thrust its polearm into the Magma Dragon's abdomen. The Magma Dragon was notorious for its incredibly thick obsidian scales, which constantly emitted a white-hot glow; the Keeper's goat-like hooves pressed hard against the ground to drive the weapon in, but it would not budge an inch.

This action completely enraged the Magma Dragon. It spat a breath of toxic, sulfurous magma that melted the Exalted Keeper of Secrets. An expression of disbelief appeared on the Keeper's hideous face before it vanished from the mortal realm.

The Magma Dragon then spat its breath into the portal, from which echoes of ecstatic screaming resonated.

Annasara arrived, but she was too late.

The portal slowly faded away, and the Beastmen on the ramparts retreated into the forest, leaving behind nothing but a field of corpses and the wounded.

Dacus's Twilight Tide had ended.

It's gone. It's really gone _(:з」∠)_

Being able to call for backup is a skill in itself, doge face.

(End of Chapter)