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Antioch's suit was now unpowered, without either the jetpack or his backpack, he knew that he had about 3 minutes of auxilary power, he was, however, adrift in the void. He drew his bolter and fired, propelling himself onto the side of the ship. As he grabbed it and climbed closer to the hole, his armour lost power. He shed his armour and climbed into the hole. He saw Antioch run past with Dreph on his shoulders. He ran with them as they went, and made it to the Apothecary bay first, unsealing it. He voxed Rephosus, "I need a new set of armour, can you build me an artificer suit?"

Dreph hung limp. A strange feeling of power rippled over his skin.

"Aloysus..."

"What, sir?"

"Stand me up."

Dreph propped himself up on the hilt of the sword. He focused on the Daemons that leapt towards him.

Zap.

Great arcs of lightning leapt from his fingers. A flurry of razor sharp fragments of pure energy tore apart their flesh.

Dreph's eyes began to glow an incredible blue, the same colour that emanated from the runes on the side of the blade.

Apollus was sleeping. A deep sleep until the next time his company needed him for battle. His head snapped awake. Rustling and scratching could be heard outside of his suit. It sounded like a loud drone of an insect swarm. Using his mind impulse link he activated the armour's joints. His cognitive sensors flickered open revealing his surroundings.

Monsters. Abominations. Daemons. A great horde was screaming past his motionless form, crawling, slivering and clawing there way through the docking bay. All manners of horrors were materialising themselves from the walls. No two creatures were alike, some adorned horns, some with thousands of eyes and skin that seemed to be alive with the agonised souls of humans. Wailing beasts with great sythes for arms, fat waddling giants putrified and bloated, red daemons blazing with fire carrying terrifying weaponry.

The moment Apollus could move his limbs was the moment he began sweeping his great fist and swinging his mighty sword. His assault cannon began whining to life, spinning the chambers until a great roar burst from it's barrel. The immediate area around Apollus became a killzone. His sword cleaving through rotten flesh, his fist crushing skulls and his cannon ripping apart torsos. The daemons tried to press their numbers against him, trying grab hold of his limbs and pin him down.

A small horned gimp tried to grasp his wrist but had not anticipated the chainsaw attachment. It whirred to life trapping the gimp's pathetic body in its teeth. The chain was clogged with gore but managed to push most of it out with a quick but throaty burst. Apollus gave a hearty laugh at the sad beasts attempts.
"COME TO ME... WARP SCUM, MEET... YOUR DEATH!"

As if answering his challenge a giant muscle bound champion came forth. Killing all in it's way the great daemon stood twice as tall, carrying a mighty axe the half bull, half goat rushed forwards.
"Emperor... preserve me" thought Apollus. However daunting this new opponent, he would still face it in battle. The daemon gave a furious roar with enough force to remove the blood and bile off Segari's armour. He charged forward swinging a punch into it's stomach. With all the forward momentum of his attack Apollus kept stomping forward with the champion still bent over his fist until they reached a wall which he slammed the beast into. The deamon pinned to the wall lifted it's great axe above his head, bringing it down with great force onto Apollus' rear engine.

This was a grave mistake. The daemon was now weaponless, it's axe buried into his back luckly missing vital machinary. If only the goatman could see the contemptor disformed smile on his mutalated face. His sword punched through it's guts, then sliced it's way up and through the daemon's disgusting face cleaving it in two. As the champion fell into two pieces Segari turned to face the horde once more.

He was not suprised to find twelve more similar to what he had just killed. Not to mention the ever growing mob around them.
"This was going to be a... glorius day" said Apollus.

The Red monsters emerged from the Psychic blast relatively unscathed, Antioch thought of Hectoris, resistant to the Psychic powers thrown at him. He rushed forward to meet the 4 red Daemons who charged at the stooping Dreph. He was fast for a Space Marine, but unarmoured, this speed nearly doubled. He impaled the first, then slid under a second, carving it in half from groin to chest. The third he punched in the face before stabbing it in the chest. The final Daemon approached him, as it did, he spun and lopped of the blade arm, and slicing the second arm of with the backstroke. The he stood up tall and severed its head. "Aloysus," He said, "Get Dreph into the med-bay". As he hoisted the captain through the door, Antioch sealed it.

Hectoris let out another scream, which turned to a splutter as Holy Water was poured down his throat. He coughed it up. He looked as normal, all transformation gone, but Malcador insisted that his pain at the contact of salt and silver proved he was possessed.
"How are there Daemons on this ship? How did they get here?!" Malcdor screamed in his face.
"There was a warp gate opened in my holding cell, the one my Juggernaut came through, "the Hectoris side of Them, now dominant, cried out, the pain unbearable. He blacked out for a moment.

____________________

He was back in the Warp, Scarspite stood before him. Scarspite looked different though, clad in brass plates with symbols of Skulls upon it. A cloak of skulls flowed from his shoulders.
"Hello Hectoris, " he hised, his purple tonguie flicking out.
"What is this, I saw you destroyed!"
Scarspite paced around like a caged lion, his Hellblade scraping the floor as he stalked around. "You are strong of body to contain a Daemon, and strong of soul too, but weak of mind. These characteristics makes you perfect for our plan."
"Our?"
Scarspite turned, and grinned, his exposed fangs barred in evil joy. "We are in your soul Caecilius, the part that resides in the Warp. It just so happens to reside near Khorne's Skull Throne." He paused before delivering his final line. "There are thousands of us in here. The one you saw absorbed into the alien's weapon was just a Lesser daemon, foolish enough to strike before it was time."
At his words the darkness fell away like a cloak, revealing there was thousands, if not millions of Bloodletters, arrayed in ranks, swords in hands, the lust for blood and skulls like a howl to the heavens. Daemonic canines stalked up and down, Bloodletters riding Juggernauts in behind. A Chariot pulled, by what seemed to be a Jugernaut, and the head of the one Hectoris had summoned. Suddenly, the rest of it appeared in a blaze of fire and gore.
____________________
Far away, in space, the headless Juggernaut imploded in the same manner
____________________

Hectoris looked at Scarspite, who had given him power beyond that he could gain on his own, someone he believed he could use, if not trust. "Why does Malador ask for your true name? Who are you, Scarspite?"
The Daemon move in a supernatural blur, tearing a hole in his chest with his claw. Hectoris sank to his knee, stunned. He saw the colossal sillouette of a humanoid figure rise behind the horde, a great axe large enough to level a mountain, wings that could block out a star. The daemon Herald raored a signal.
"I am the Skulltaker, Chamion of Khorne!"
His roar was taken up by the legion of Daemons. The collosus, raised its horned head, the power of its roar shocking Hectoris to full awareness.
________________________
Confessor Jerimiah stood before him. Hectoris suddenly realised he was seeing both scenes at the same time. Scarpite, or Skulltaker as he was truly known, was riding towards him, streams of Bloodcrushers leading the charge, Flesh Hounds at their heels, followed by the foot soldiers. The collosus took flight, the liftoff shaking the very ground.
"Run Confessor!"
The elderly Chaplain stepped back, just as the Chariot exploded from his chest. Malcador vanished in a flash. Skulltaker's sword flashed down, and Hectoris saw the spray of blood against the wal, and the headless corpse fall to the ground. Juggernauts and Hounds lept from his chest, and Skulltaker led the charge, racing through the door, the brazen beasts taking him to enormous speeds, hacking at those before him, each stroke taking a life and head. Jugernaut-mounted Bloodcrushers followed suit, preading into nearby corridors, whiler Flesh hounds raced ahead, taring apart those which were too slow to escape. Hectoris screamed as the wound widened, and the stream of Daemons increased, coming out as many as 3 or 4 infantryat a time.
_______________
Far away, in the holding bay, the portal where Hectoris had been held was the same, a tide of bloodhungry Daemons pouring into reality. Even the Emperor's children could not stand against such a force, the one squad of Luna Wolves already wiped out, and almost all of the living, whether human, animal or Servitor were already dead. None would be able to stop this tide.

My anger grew and grew and when the creatures burst from hectoris i screamed into the warp and realspace. ''ALL OF YOU GET THE FETH OUT OF MY BLOODY SHIP!!''
The anger and power was so large that they where stunned for a moment and some where weakened. Just before they regained their power. I summoned over 800 automated heavy flamer turrets and i hid all the allied members using force shields using my augmented magic powers.
The ship was being purged for 2 hours straight now and there didn't seem to be an end to it. When i heard a colossal scream come out. Through the camera feed i could see it was a giant blood red monster clad in brass armor. But just before he could rush out of the room a stunning surprise was awaiting him. I had the claws that where normally used to stop boarding ships turn inside out. And i had 4 of those giant claws aiming at him. With a giant burst the claws launched and his body transformed into bloody gush of red black and brass armor.
I saw caldrek was still alive and put him into a stasis field to be imprisoned later. I wanted to open the vox when i saw their leader storm through the holding cells running towards me wanting revenge.
I would be able to hold out for a while but my powers where severely weakened by my actions so i needed to be rescued or i would be massacred.

The vox crackled "This is Rephosus to anyone who can hear me. I require your assistance immediately. I can keep the ship running as long as the daemons are kept off me. I need help. If you recieve this please respond!"

Aloysus replied. "Rephosus, this is Aloysus, I am with Captain Dreph and Sgt Antioch. We will try to assist you. Hold firm, brother, for the Phoenician and the Emperor." He turned to his brothers. "We must assist Rephosus." "I will need armour then, Aloysus." replied Antioch.

"That will not be a problem, Sergeant Antioch." rang a deep, fluid voice. The three marines turned and immediately dropped to their knees. "My Lord!" muttered Aloysus. "It so happens that there is a suit of artificier armour hidden in this Apothecarium, waiting for this moment, as Malcador foresaw." Fulgrim continued, opening a hidden panel in the wall to reveal a master crafted suit of power armour. "Don it, Antioch. It was made for you!" he laughed as Antioch moved to put on the plate, touching it reverently, before growing serious "I do not know where your path leads you, Dreph. You and your marines have felt the touch of a darkness that mankind was never meant to know, and you have all succumbed. Many of you have broken those chains and risen stronger, while others believe themselves these powers masters. Except one. I sense that your Apothecary, Aloysus, is different." Dreph and Antioch immediately raised their bolters, aiming at Aloysus. "Put your bolters away, my sons. He, alone among you, has stood true to his path while others faltered and failed. Listen well to his council, Dreph, for it is pure. I also sense that there is an unresolved choice over him, you must watch him carefully. But enough of this. I do not know your Company's path, Kalar, but I have been warned to let you be, and so I shall. Your Techmarine, Rephosus, calls for our aid, and we must answer. To arms, my sons, and we will yet prevail!"

Fulgim opened the door to the corridor and stepped forth, weilding Fireblade and smiting the daemons as Kalar, Antioch and Aloysus flanked him, cutting down daemons by the score. "CHILDREN OF THE EMPEROR!" Fulgrim shouted. "DEATH TO HIS FOES!" chorused the Captain, Apothecary and Sergeant.

Nero heard the screams of his comrades as Yllithan showed him the portal to the Materium. Nero's grip on his bolt pistol tightened. A slave bearing a cask of wine stepped forward and Nero smattered him against a wall with a backhanded swing. He had felt empty since the First Son burned away due to the stress of living in Comorragh.
"Give me men. I will lead the host to help them." Nero said.
"And what would that give me? Its all about the benefits in the dark city." Yllithan said, boredly toying with his knife.
"You can have the Imperial Army Regiment. All of them. They will keep the pits filled for a week at least." Nero responded, perfectly willing to give up a few thousand guardsmen for his squad mates.
"Fair enough, I will assemble the banners. For your service I want you to accept this as a gift." Yllithan said and gave Nero an eldritch blade of alabaster steel. He felt a warm touch as he grabbed its handle and allowed himself a shudder of pleasure.
"It may seem a normal power weapon now, but wait for its blessing and it will help you in your time of need. Now my banners are ready, lets bring the pain to these daemons." Yllithan said and tossed a disk from his belt. A whirling black portal whipped up as it hit the ground and they jumped through.


Nero came into the materium fighting. He parried a swing from a gnarled black Hellblade and repaid its wielder in kind with a bolt shell. He spun and hacked down another two of the warriors. He saw Yllithan vaulting and slicing, killing a score of the red beasts within a few seconds of his arrival. More portals popped up across the ship and soon the white and orange of the White Flames filled the room. Splinter fire tore open their daemonic hide while darklight vaporized mighty tunnels of them. Nero saw the Reavers fly out of a portal just as a team of bloodcrushers made themselves apparent from around a corner. The Arena Champion Drakh-Nye-a gave a curt nod to the slavering warhost and revved his bike. Their mounts pawed the ground and the Reavers took off. They shot back and forth down the corridor, banking and making more runs at each end. Thin blades raked deep gorges across the steel flesh of the mounts, occasionally shooting out to dismantle a rider. Soon five dead Juggernauts lay amongst an equal amount of riders and the Reavers had shot down the hall to find more fun. A mighty greater daemon rose from the carnage and roared, its new form dripping with carnage. Nero whistled and it turned. Hatred boiled up in its eyes, each piercing the darkness with the fury of a new-born sun. Nero twirled his blade and holstered his pistol. The Bloodthirster cracked his whip and charged at Nero. He took his new blade in two hands and crouched low. At the last second he hurled the gift that Aemon had given him to the ground. It was a dense black sphere that had absorbed the energy of every one of Aemon's victims for the past millenia. Mixing his own psychic energy into the burst of purple light that came from the orb as it shattered he sent a bolt more powerful than a lascannon straight into the beasts chest. It was lifted to the roof and crashed down, a hole smoking where its armored torso had been. He ran towards where his squad icons were all deployed, the Apothecarium.

Great gout of flames and smoke came out of Dreph's hand, the runes on the Blade of Lost Souls again changing to the colour of the fire. The white light that replaced his eyes turned whiter as he charged onwards, burning through Daemons like hot butter.

So was born Dreph Kalar, first and last Librarian of the Emperor's Children Legion, one of the most powerful Psykers to ever grace the galaxy.

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

He ran forth, entities flying from hand, cutting through the foe.

Apollus could not move his armour. The ground around him had become a quagmire of melted steel and roasted daemon flesh. The docking bay had been completely purged with fire, evaporting all life except for the Contemptor. The dreadnought had barely made it through the inferno. He was scorched to a black crisp, joints unable to move after being wielded together by the insane heat. Everything else in the bay hadn't fared as well as Segari.

Most died where they stood, their black rigid statues all that remained of the great army that had penetrated the ship. Ooze from the rotting beasts collected and bubbled, sizzling on the white hot surface. There was not much he could do, except wait and watch the barbequed battlefield.

Skulltaker sweeped his blade down, decapitating yet another Eldar with a sinle stroke, her speed no mtach for his. Daemon Princes hammered gigantic swords and weapons at the enomous walker again, wearing its shielding away. Abominations to daemonkind! he thought. Mortals in a Daemon's form! Still, they had their uses. Skulltaker's left hand Juggernaut growled and bit another Eldar in half, while the right hand one reared and smashed a flimsy Jetbike underfoot, the pilot trnd to puree and the bike to debris.

"DAEMON!!!" came a roar as Fulgrim, flanked by Aloysus, Kalar and A ntioch. Skulltaker lept from his Chariot, blade in hand, taking a Predator stance, blade raised above his head in a eagle's grip, pointing towards the ceiling and slightly behind him. Daemon's moved to intercept them, but the 3 marines shot them to bits. A Flesh Hound lept at the Primarch who spun, slicing it in half, his sword burning with as much fury as Skulltaker's own. Skulltaker roared his own challenge, "You bested me once mortal, while I wasa trapped inside that moron! He slowed me down. But now you won't do that again! I challenge you to single combat, a fight to the death. A fair fight as dictated by my Lord Khorne! No psykers, no tricks, no interference!"

Fulgrim pointed his Fireblade at the Skull covered Daemon. "I accept your challenge! Should I win, when I win, you shall leave. No Daemon shall fight untill our battle is won!"
"Agreed." The Daemon Princes stopped, and turned to watch the duel.
"Name yourself daemon."
Skulltaker grinned. He enjoyed calling his name. "I am the Skulltaker. First Bloodletterof Khorne, slayer of Champions, Herald and Champion of Khorne and the best duelist that ever existed in this world or the Warp! I am made for single combat and I shall not lose!"
Fulgrim drew his sword in an arc, switching hands as he did.

"we shall see." he mutered. He was interupted by a Anticoh, who appeared at his elbow.
"Please my Lord, allow me to duel on your behalf, as the Company, Chapter and legion's Champion. You need to live my lord, should this Daemon lie and cheat, your death would destroy this Legion. Allow me to repent my sins my being your Champion." he pleaded, his head bowed.
Fulgrim stared at this at this marine, the one who had once been a Tactical Squad sergeant. now a Champion of the III Legion.
"Perfection in all things, my son!" Fulgrim cried, his voice filled with pride, as he planted the Fireblade into the ground before Antioch, and stepped back. Antioch stared at the magnifcent blade, unfit for any hand but the pale white of his Primarch, or the mercury of its maker, Ferrus Manus. He stared at Fuklgrim, who nodded his approval. Fulgrim turned to the Skulltaker.

"Anticoh shall be my Cham,pion, and represent me, the Legion, the Emperor in this duel!" he declared, as Antioch drew his Primarch's sword, imbedded in the floor, and stepped to meet the Daemmon in single combat. Daemonic runes flowed to the floor. a firey shield went up. None woukld disturb this duel.
_______________________
Far away, in theReclusium, Hectoris cried out as a massive Daemon Prince clawed its way out of his chest. he could not take much more. he had to seal this portal. He strained as hard as he could against his iron bonds but to no avail. He should have been able to break these.he had punched through Ferrocrete and plasteel but could not break a soft metal like iron? The thought disgusted him. His anger built p into a firey inferno that poured out from the great rent inside his chest, and the chains snapped as he heaved them from the wall. He raced to the table and poured holy water on the rift, followed by salt. The wou8nd started to shrink but did not close. He lifted a torch from its brazier. He took a breath, and pressed it to his flesh. The Bloodcrusher sqeezing through wascut in half, its head severed. Thus cauterised, Hectoris picked up a Bloodletters blade, and his shield which was on the table. Even without Scarspite, or Skulltaker's aid, he could still be faster and stronger than anyother marine, his physique greatly enhanced though no where near the monstrosity he was before. he set off at a run, heading to the holding cell where the second warp rift was. he woukld not let that colossus on this ship.

Dreph halted. He heard the massive psychic scream let out by Hectoris. Without hesitation he ran.

Dreph had remembered when he was a servant of the dark gods. He despised his past self for being so blind to this.

His augmented eyes had been removed. The great light had blinded him once more, but now his psychic talents allowed him to see again.

"HECTORIS!"

He met him running down the corridor and followed.

Segari tugged and strained in his mind trying to get the dreadnought to budge. A crack was heard and his foot dislodged from the lava like sludge on the deck. Another pull and his arm moved, the layer of caked ash cracking apart and falling off. His suit had cooled so much that it was far more hardened than before making movement difficult. Slowly he trudged foward causing his armour to creak and more of the hardened magma to break apart. He was glad to be able to move again.

Scanning his immediate area he found an exit . Great fires raged in the docking bay, caches of weaponary and vehicles erupted in enourmous explosions. Segari was crumbling the burnt statues of his enemies as he walked. Apollus tried to make use of his vox.
"Emporer's Children... this is Contemptor Apollus."

Skulltaker struck first, swinging his blade a huge sweeping attack that was parried with ease, as it was meant to be. he was moving much slower than normally he would. Luring the marine into a flase sense of security./ Antioch backstepped, and launched a series of attacks that Skulltaker appeared to be on the defensive. Antioch raised his blade to stroke downwards. As his blade descended, the Herald paried it to the side, pushing his Hellblade against it in a circle before stabbing it halfway up its length into Antiochs chest. The Champion dropped his sword and collapse gasping for air. Skulltaker kicked him and sent him towards the stunned Primarch. Aloysus was quick to react, immdiately working on Antioch to save him. The wound was not fatal. Fulgrim gripped the silver hilt of the Laeran blade, feeling emotion flood through him. He caught his firey sword lobbed to him buy the filthy creature, who turned to the large Daemons. they continued to smash away at the void shields. Suddenly, Skulltaker raoraed, and collapsed into dust, absorbed by the Tesseract Knife Vargard Cladrek stabbed into him. Caldrek stood eyeing up ther marines. He nodded his respect to ther mighty warrior. Even Fulgrim wopuild need to recognise his aid, and returned the gesture.
Without warning the Knife exploded in a mass of green shards and fire, and Skulltaker reappeared. "Foll! You think you can trap me in the materium, without a fair fight. Lord Khorne is my master and his patronage will mean I shall slay you, with my bare talons if need be!" He lept forward with a bestial roar, Caldrek phasing out to avoid the blow, but suddenly he phased back in, the God of war's powers blocking him from doing anything but fight. His Gravity Pack wouldn't work either. he drew his weapons and prepared to fight.
_____________________
Hectoris turned to face kalr as he came towards him, swinging a strike at the Captain, who parried and struck in return. hectoris blocked with his shield and punch his sword hand into Kalar, who rolled with the punch and then sent a blue bolt of energy into him. hectoris was knocked to the ground.
"Hectoris enough! We must not fight, we can't! There are daemons and we must stop more from coming through!" kalr lowered a hand, offering a help up to his feet.
"You are a Psyker?"
"Yes"
Hectoris snarled, but accepted the hand.
"The rift is in my holding cell before Skulltaker called the beast. They are trying to summmon something. A colossus, a Daemon Lord."
Kalr was stunned. "We can't let it happen!"
"They need to sacrifce 888 skulls to the rift before him can come through. If we deny them even one we will suceed."
Kalar nodded. The two set off at a run for the holding bay.
___________________
Fulgrim raced towards the trio of daemons. He lept into the air, the Fireblade cleaving into the shoulder of one. he wasn't as tall as them, but he still came up to their shoulders and was just as powerful. He dodged an enormous maul swung at him and stabbed the owner in the chest, staggering it.

Dreph charged down the corridor, his mind set on the task.

His mind had been opened. He could sense the slightest taint of daemonic possession and could solve problems in seconds that Horus himself would struggle upon.

At that moment, a great tide of Daemons began to pour in, screeching his name.

Antioch dueled with the Skulltaker, but he soon realized this for was beyond him. This creature was not mortal, it was from the immaterium. He felt the sword pierce through his chest, decimating organs, destroying flesh and armor. Antioch watched Aloysus run to his side, and then he blacked out.

ignore

Caldrek didn't care about Khorne's rules. He didn't care about anyone's rules for that matter. He was phasing in and out, locking blades and shooting the daemon as often as he could. Skulltaker had already accrued several wounds, none of which seemed to be serious. The daemon was confused about Caldrek himself though. Serving the Blood God, Skulltaker was used to spilling blood. Caldrek had no blood to spill, so Skulltaker kept on trying to live up to his name and decapitate the Necron. This meant the blows could easily be anticipated and parried, countered or, if necessary, phase out to avoid. This enabled Caldrek to get the daemon angry, so it's blows were unco-ordinated, but fast and heavy. Caldrek saw the daemon swing down, aiming to cleave the Vargard in two, and Caldrek swung his own, short, sword to meet his adversary's. Upon connecting the blades, Caldrek twisted his own sword to be pointing at Skulltaker's shoulder. Caldrek fired the weapon, blowing Skulltaker's arm clean off. As the daemon howled in pain, Caldrek said loudly "Skulltaker, I take your skull!"

Caldrek swung up and around, coming down like an executioner on Skulltaker and the head of the daemon bounced away across the floor. The headless corpse fell on it's side. All of Skulltaker's bits caught fire, and burnt to ash at an inconceiveably fast rate, except the Hellblade. Caldrek sheathed his own weapons and picked it up.

Caldrek looked at the crowd of marines. If he could have smiled, he would have done. Then he phased out, and returned to his Dynasty.

Sorry, double post

"WE ARE HERE FOR THE ONE CALLED KALAR!" rang the hideous scream.

"Very well, Daemon. Here I am." Dreph replied, unconcerned about the ever growing tide of Chaos scum. A great howl rang out, and the two marines were smothered.

Dreph swung his blade in a great arc, cutting through bone and flesh with ease. Bolts of lightning and gouts of flame poured from his imbued hands.

Hectoris was still more powerful than anyother marine, thanks to the musclelature enhancements his time as a Daemonhost had granted him. He was smashing Daemons apart, left, right and centre. And then there were none. They were all dead.
"Kalar, we must get to the rift.
____________________
They arrived. They ran out but quickly ducked behind a wall. A half finished pyramid was being built in the centre of the room, surrounded by headless corpses of humans, Luna Wolves and a few of the III Legion. Daemons stalked around, patroling, Flesh Hounds sniffing the air. Without warning an exceptionly large, 3 headed Hound howled, and sxores of Hellish canines raced towards their position. The Daemon's stacking the skulls speeded up, but each bloody cranium was placed with care, prefectly stacked. Hectoris stabbed the first beast as it lept, and slashed another as it fell. Then he was bowled over as the 3 headed one smashed into him.

The daemon princes where hammering on the void shield i raised to protect myself. I saw skulltaker falling to the ground behind me but i knew that i wouldn't get help soon. I would be crushed i could already feel parts of my body submitting to the exhaustion.
I decided i would give the last of my strength to captain dreph hoping he would use it well. I concentrated all of my remaining powers and a pure beam of energy struck captain dreph. His powers increased along with that i sent a psychic message to him. It said. ''Captain i hope you can hear this in time. I don't think i will make it the amount of enemies is too high. I will send you the last of my power so you can expel these daemon scum. Maybe i will see you in the future but now im afraid i won't make it.'' But i fell unconscious directly after. I knew that the void shields would only last for 20 minutes before it would disappear . I fell into a deep sleep hoping i would be saved.

Aloysus worked quickly. The damage to Antioch was serious, but he could save him. Removing Antioch's breastplate he began stitching and patching, the narthecium on his left arm whining as it unloaded painkillers and stimulants to speed the healing process. Once he was finished he reattached Antioch breastplate and propped him up against a wall, before returning to the fighting. Fulgrim was engaged with two Daemon Princes, and a third lay dead at his feet. He was marshal perfection, and the two Daemons were hard pressed to defend themselves. As he watched Fulgrim felled another with a graceful swing that took the head off the Prince before turning to press the third back down the corridor, forcing the daemons back. Aloysus spotted an opening and took it. Drawing his power sword he charged down the corridor. "For the Emperor!" he yelled. He lowered his shoulder and used the point of his sword as a lance, his momentum smashing daemons aside while his sword drove clean through several, causing them to dematerialise. He was through the daemon lines. Fulgrim was in his element, the third Daemon Prince had fallen and he was scattering the lesser daemons like chaff. Antioch was on his feet again and was guarding the Primarch flank. "Go, my son!" Fulgrim shouted. "Help your Techmarine!". Aloysus turned and ran through the corridors, heading to Rephosus' side.

Nero spun and cut down a Bloodcrusher. He was running to join Hectoris and Kalar when he fell to his knees, his mind overloaded by a greater power.


Feel no fear, it is only me, Malcador. I am using you as a psychic beacon to attract a force of Custodes. They are the eyes of the Emperor and I am sending them to you so that the Emperor will know of the danger these daemons pose. Hold these things for five more hours and you will be successful, the Custodes will help you ensure that. Goodbye son of Horus, make not his mistakes


Nero stood shakily, deeply unsettled by Malcador's last words. Yllithan was beside him cracking his Agonizer and killing all the daemons that ran towards them. Barrages of holy water splinter fire drove back the lines of daemons. Nero could vaugely hear Aemon shouting until Yllithan gave him a smack to the helm. This returned Nero to his full consciousness and he pulled up his bolter firing at the crowded corridor. Aemon lobbed a Dark Gate into the center and a mass of daemons disappeared. Nero led his warriors through the halls and came to the location of the second rift where Kalar and Hectoris stood embattled with a pack of Flesh Hounds.
"THE DARK KIN WILL NOT BE DENIED!" Nero shouted and lept up, beheading one of the creatures with his sword before spinning and stabbing another through the neck.
"Dreph, should I take care of those builders with the pyramid?" Nero asked, shouldering another of Khornes favoured beasts aside.

Caldrek phased in, splattered with gore and scorch marks, next to Nemesor Tokarn, who was deep in conversation with a handful of Crypteks. Tokarn looked up.
"Vargard, what happened?"
With great care to each detail, Caldrek informed his commander what was happening to the Astartes. After concluding, Caldrek went to get himself cleaned up. Upon returning, Nemesor Tokarn told Caldrek to oversee the Dynasty and to gather 50 Lychguards.

_______________________________________________________________

Rephosus was in deep trouble. The Void Shields had almost gone, and the daemons were not letting up.

______________________________________________________________________

Nemesor Tokarn phased in with the Lychguards and made quick work of the daemons surrounding the shielded marine. After the damons were dead, Tokarn ordered 20 of his Lychguards to defend the marine and took the remainder of the squad hunting for Eldar of the dark variety.

Voices crackled through the vox, although Dreph couldn't understand a word.

"I will send you that last of my power..."

A great surge of energy pumped through Dreph. His heart beat faster, his palms crackled with electricity, his eyes began to burn.

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

A gargantuan tide of pure force burst from his frame. The daemons were strewn across the floor, entombed in the skulls.

"I need to focus on the rift to shut it! Keep me safe!"

Hectoris nodded. He jumped back up and watched.

Dreph began to shut the rift.

I fell into a state of deactivation lacking the power to continue.
Because i was hooked to the ship i could still watch out for my allies and i activated some emergency systems. Using that i put up a protective void shield around captain kalar and sergeant hectoris.
I felt the nurturing power from the ships power generators slowly but surely powering me up again. I knew that i would be back in the fight after a couple of hours.

Aloysus burst into room where Rephosus was linked into the ship's machine spirit, sword at the ready. As he came through the door 20 mechanical robots with halberds and shields dropped into fighting stances. They were surrounding Rephosus who was cocooned in a void shield. Aloysus knew that the odds were stacked against him in this battle, but he had to try. He prepared for his last fight as an Emperor's Child. The enemy warriors straightened up out of combat stances and formed protective ranks around Rephosus, standing aside to allow Marius to approach him. Aloysus advanced slowly between their ranks, wary of a trick, but he reached the void shield unmolested. A small portal appeared before him and he stepped through and hurried to Rephosus' side as the portal sealed itself behind him. He looked over Rephosus. He had exhausted himself in defence of the ship, and required rest. Aloysus gave him a shot of stimulant to help him recover quicker, before drawing his pistol and sword. He would stand guard over Rephosus until he was recovered enough to fight.

Kalar's hands and eyes crackled as he tried to shut off the giant purple hole. Nero swore as he saw that the demons only had five skulls left to stack. He fired his entire bolter clip and tossed a grenade, but the Flesh Hounds all took the fire.
"WHITE FLAMES, BRING IT DOWN!" He shouted and fifty warriors flooded into the corridor, drenching the pile in splinter fire. Skulls cracked and smashed as the shredders and dark lances were brought to bear and the ritual was totally disturbed, shattering the mighty Daemon Lord's connection to the materium and killing off many of his host.

Hectoris fought with the strength of a thousand desperate men, each blow felling a Daemon. The three headed beast lay bleeding in a corner, immobile. he would deal with it later. His heart lept as he saw Nero come roaring in to the chamber, reinforcements welcome, but then fell again, as he saw the manner in which theior reinforcement's arived. Dark Eldar. His heart lept back up when the Xenos opened fire, causing several skulls in the pyramid to shatter. It would not be enough. Only 8 more skulls were needed.The 7 to make the capstone and one to top it all. But there no more bodies to take skulls from, and the portal was almost closed. e rejoced. It would be over.

Without warning, a Bloodcrusher swept by, decapitating a number of Xenos. 5 to be precise. hectoris panicked as the Bloodcrusher picked the up, lept from its mount and assembled them in the pryamid. Only 3. But those three would not be found, for none of the remaining warriors would die, their skill marking them out as commanders and combat specialists. Hectoris caught a glimpse of red blur by, and the 3 headed beast leap into the air. The Bloodletter cuaght it one handed and cut off all 3 heads, two falling in to place. Hectoris began to climb the pyramid. A black laser shot out and obliterated the last head of the Flesh Hound before it could connect with the structure. Hectoris breathed a sigh. They were saved. The Bloodletter was the last Daemon, and it would not be able to kill any of them.

Without warning, the portal, nearly sealed, exploded open, throwing everyone into the air. Hectoris was deafened as a roar enough to terrify ther Emperor himself shook the chamber. hectoris saw the headless body of the bloodletter fall to the ground as the pyramid collapsed and flew into the portal in a Maelstrom of bone and blood, the Daemons own skull in the centre. Hectoris' vision flickered as he began precieving oth realities at once. He saw the colossus rise up, face level with the rapidly expanding portal. Within minutes it would allow the creature to move onto their ship. No one would be able to stop it. Kalar sprinted to him, as best he could, struggling against the chaotic winds pulling them all into the vortex. A dark Eldar screamed past him as his arms were ripped off in a shower of blood, disappearing into the spiral.
"Hec-tor-is! What do we do!" shouted the psyker, barely audible over the raor of pure hatred enminating stil around the ship. Hectoris whispered, so that no one would hear. "The Unbound comes. There is nothing we can do."

Then Hectois saw hope. A sword, embedded in the floor. At first he thought it was a Hellblade, but then he saw that th hilt was Imperial, and its pomel was an emrald cube. It was his sword. With the Tesseract Laberynth! The one that contains the Necron God, that devoured the Avatar! He could save them all. He dropped his shield and sprinted, straight for the sword. It lay right in front of the portal. In his alternate vision he saw the Daemon Lord riase its head, about to push through into the world of reality. Hectoris gripped the sword underhand with both hands, hearing the echos of Kalar's voice calling his name. He lept, raising the blade above both hands, into the portal.

Reality vanished, replaced by the warpspace, and the leering face of An'ngrath the Unbound, Hectoris stabbed down with all his might as he fell, the ragged blade sinking to the hilt in the Exalted Daemon's forehead. The Daemon fell backwards as Hectoris detached the Tsseract from the weapon, and fell the next 500 feet, landing on his front. He screamed as he fet his ribs break, and both his lungs exploded. He gasped momentarily before the Multi-Lung could take over. He staggered to hisfeet as An'ngrath rose up. He was [i]enormous[./i]. Enomous didn't even apply here. He was bigger than the Knight Rephosus was piloting. Hectoris had never seen a Reaver or Warlord Titan, but from the specs he read on them, Khorne's Exalted Champion was bigger than them. He axe was the size of a Baneblade, and that was only just the grip. That blade could level mountains. hectoris stood firm, gazing past the monstrousity to see legion upon leion upon legion of Daemons. Too many to possibly count.
An'ngrath bellowed, hi voice to loud to hear, yet somehow penetraing the m,ind, his very words painful to the nerves, searing pain lashing through his body as the sound waves battered his form. "I am An'ngrath, th Unbound. You shall die, human sum, betrayer of the Lord of battles! Speak your name so that I may smite you!"
The Daemon's arrogance was disgusting. Hetoris returned the creature's gaze, its eye bigger than a Dreadnought. He held his nerve as he answered.
"I am Caecilius Hectoris, Sergeant of the Jaded Watch, First Assault Terminator Squad of the Brotherhood of Orion, 9th Company of the Emperor's Children. We are sons of the Pheonix, Lord Fulgrim, our grandfather the almighty Emperor, and the only Legion Perfect enough to wear his Aquila upon their breasts, and I shall be the death of you, Destroyer of Worlds!" He cried out, atrianing his voice to reach that high. He prayed he did not sound as frihtened as he was. The beast laughed, a deep, menacing sound that battered his ribs with the volume. "And how, do you plan to do that, mortal.?"
hectoris winced as he raised the Tesseract, unleashing the Nightbringer.