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"So finally something I was not expecting." thought the Skulltaker to himself. "Lord Khorne told me that for which we are not prepared will have the biggest effect upon us." Abraxas pointed his sword towards the giant Marine. "So it would seem we are the last two sentient beings left. I have no wish to fight you. My time here in real space is at and end now and I wish to return to a time and place beyond this material realm where I can shed this skin so to speak. Let me pass unchallenged and I will do you no harm. You can rule the new universe unbound. Consider my offer carefully for you stand before the very God of War."

"I can't do that." said the huge red Marine. "Its not of my nature."

Abraxas carefully studied his new adversary. The daemon god realized the warrior wore a life like mask fastened over his face. The scars suddenly vanished and the stark face of an angry angel stared back at him. The face of the mask looked very familiar but he could not place it. "Who are you stranger and why should I such as I pay any heedto your challenge. I could cleave you in twain right now before you could even so much as twitch one muscle."

The Marine sneered and spat upon the quaking ground. A black mantle had been fastened to one of his shoulderguards and the name Scipio was embossed upon the silk cover stitched in blood red.

- edited for double post -

The giant crimson Marine bunched his huge gauntlets making large red fists. Dark energy poured off his hands in scarlet waves. His eyes shone bright from within as he frowned and the death mask turned to shining gold.

"I recognize the mask now." said Abraxas. "You wear the face of Sanguinius, the dead primarch of the Blood Angels. Are you an avatar crafted from his lost spirit?"

"As you said we are the last two sentient beings left. Only the most hardy could have survived this long. If the pitch is so rank that only weeds can grow that does not make a dandelion a flower." said Scipio.

"So you like riddles then." Abraxas countered. "So be it. I offered you the chance to leave me be. By your own choice there can only be one." The Skulltaker rose up to full form slashing down at the Blood Angel with the Sword of Khaine.

Scipio roared. A sonic crash wave hit the daemon god knocking him aside like a limp doll. Abraxas rolled to his feet soaring up into the pitch black void that surrounded them. The Garden of Oblivion was coming apart at the seams around them. "The heavens are falling." the Skulltaker shouted at the Blood Angel. "Even two as mighty as we are at risk here. Time and space do not follow the normal rules of reality within this black dungeon of Tzneetch."

"I am the guardian of the Cube." cried Scipio. "I am immune to the dangers here."

"What is the Cube?" asked the daemon god as he lifted up the Sword of Khaine.

"The Cube is an artefact of a sentient being from beyond all other multiverses. One cube exists in each universe tying them all together. While there are an infinite number of parallel universes many have been corrupted by the Cube. Each Cube has a guardian to help it spread the corruption. Each Cube can be configured as an Infinity Gauntlet if you will and as such grants infinite power within it's own universe. A cult of highly evolved humans helped me unlock the power of this Cube and wield it as an Infinity Gauntlet. Unlike other guardians I did not succumb to the eventual and complete corruption from the Cube because I am a psychic blank, such as yourself. I was able to resist." Scipio explained.

"How could you not become corrupt if you wield a source of infinite power? Total power corrupts totally." said Abraxas.

"I had no choice but to except the responsibility of wielding the Cube, otherwise it would have fallen into the hands of one who would have been corrupted. It's a paradox but there it is." spoke the Blood Angel.

"Where are these humans who helped you to create the Infinity Gauntlet?" asked the Skulltaker.

"There life essence was drained by the Cube during the transformation. It was necessary to complete the process." said Scipio.

"And you tell me you are not corrupted!" laughed the daemon god. The Sword of Khaine ignited into a blazing spear and Abraxas hurled it at Scipio.

The spear hit Scipio square across his chestplate exploding into a sphere of bright red energy. The Blood Angel tumbled back hurled against the very cosmic fiber of the newly born universe. The High Priest tucked himself into a tight ball rolling away from the blast zone. Scipio looked up to see Abraxas hovering above him gripping the scarlet spear with both gauntlets.

"We are the old guard you stubborn fool!" shouted the Skulltaker. "All is reborn except for us, our dominion is over now!"

Scipio stood up gripping his red gauntlets together tightly. They began to glow then a pulse of nocturnal power shot out at the daemon god knocking Abraxas down. "Order must be maintained." said the High Priest.

Abraxas felt the weight of the world bearing down upon his shoulders. The Blood Angel stood below ready to renew his attack. The Angel's eyes were red orbs of death staring up with unbridled hate. Gripping the spear above his left shoulder the Skulltaker looked down again aiming the tip of his spear towards the bare head of the High Priest. "How did you come to find me here?" said Abraxas.

"The Cube lead me here. As you said we are the last two sentient beings left. As such we are the most powerful having passed the test of time. I remained in wait within my etheric realm. Time passed endlessly before my dead eyes while I sat upon my throne waiting. My final quest is to destroy you, the last daemon god, thus sparing the new cosmos from the curse of the Cube." said the Blood Angel as he watched the daemon god hovering above.

"This is the first I have heard of your Cube and I have read each and every tome held within the Black Library from cover to cover. I have slain over a million million and not one of them ever mentioned something so powerful as this artefact you hold. Why is that so? Why do you assume I would ever desire such a curse? This spear I carry is enough of a curse for an entire infinity of lifetimes. To wield the Sword of Khaine is to know more than endless death. I see constant visions of blood red oceans crashing their high waves upon beaches of bleached skulls. Death is the only constant and I want to finally be free of the endless misery and suffering." shouted the Blood God.

"Misery and suffering you say!" Scipio laughed then brooded. "You have been called a hypocrite and that phrase rings true of the accusation! You yourself are the source of more suffering and misery than any other being ever! You hold title to the mantle of the Blood God and bare the cursed weapon. Your dead god chose you to wield the Sword of Khaine as a direct sign you had been chosen to take his place. You are the successor and as such the curse has been and always will be harmless to you! You are very deceptive indeed." shouted the High Priest.

"So be it then fool." whispered the Blood God as he launched his spear. Scipio tried to dodge aside but for all his great speed he was too slow. The spear struck him square on the chestplate exploding into a rain of violent crimson power. Abraxas followed in behind grasping the Blood Angel by his neck thrashing him to and fro. Scipio grabbed the Blood God's wrists trying to break them loose. The Skulltaker gripped his throat harder forcing the High Priest to his knees. "Infinity gauntlet be damned to the ninth shade of Hades! No one has more brute power than I!"

Abraxas gripped Scipio by his iron collar and threw the High Priest against a towering stone column. The rock shattered breaking into pieces cascading upon the Blood Angel. "My memory keeps coming back to me in bits and pieces. My hatred for Tzneetch drove me insane to destroy the Lord of Change. I am sane again now though and every blow I deliver is a step back towards dominion. I remember now! I remember the Cube was the portal which delivered the twisted replicants to this shard of space. You say you are justice incarnate but your source of power is twisted and corrupt. It has brought forth monsters from the abyss! I wanted nothing more than to leave this space and time behind but no you said! You think yourself yourself an Angel of vengeance! Look upon me! It is a fool's quest to bring order about!" Khorne looked down upon his foe lifting up the Sword of Khaine. "Here is my source of power! Now watch what you have brought about!" Abraxas gripped the ancient blade twisting the runed sword until it broke. There was an immense explosion rocking the very fabric of time and space. A legion of daemons slaved to the fell sword erupted from the broken blade leaping into the gates of eternity. Scipio watched in dread silence as the unbound warp poured forth. "This is truly a new beginning." whispered Khorne. "My very children are born again to fill the cosmos with my lust for death. This is your justice Scipio. Go forth and right all the wrongs. This is your destiny." Abraxas released his grip fading slowly into the nell. The Blood Angel stood up and righted himself. Daemons clawed at his armor leaping into the void surrounding him. "I am a Phoenix born anew from the flames of my destruction." whispered Khorne. "Hate is a flame that sets the world on fire and you sparked it." Khorne's suit of brass armor shone then extinguished as the vast horde of daemons ascended into the warp again. "Your hate is my love." said the Skulltaker then there was silence.

Finis.