The Aeldari captives remained defiant, their expressions a mix of cold contempt and simmering rage. The man, his eyes like chips of ice, met my gaze without flinching. The woman, older but no less fierce, held herself with the poise of someone who had seen countless battles and endured far worse than mere captivity. Their silence was not born of fear, but of an ancient pride, a refusal to give anything to their captors willingly.
"Your defiance amuses me," I said, stepping closer to them. "But we both know how this will end. Your minds, your secrets—they will be laid bare before me. Whether you cooperate or resist is up to you. The outcome, however, will be the same."
The male Aeldari spat on the ground, his voice laced with venom. "You are nothing but a thief in the night, a scavenger feeding on the remnants of a dying world. You think you've won a victory here, but all you've done is sow the seeds of your own destruction."
I chuckled at his defiance. "Perhaps. But those seeds won't take root until long after I've reaped the rewards of this harvest. Now, tell me—what secrets does your craftworld hold? What weaknesses can I exploit?"
The woman spoke then, her voice calm, almost serene. "You believe yourself invincible, but your arrogance blinds you. The warp is not a tool to be used lightly. It consumes those who think they can control it, devours their minds and souls. Whatever you seek to learn from us will only hasten your downfall."
I leaned in closer, studying her with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. "We'll see about that. I have a talent for surviving where others falter. And you, my dear, will help me refine that talent."
With a nod to the guards, I ordered them to take the captives to the interrogation chambers. As they were led away, I turned my attention back to the viewport, watching as the debris of the battle drifted through the void. This raid had been a success, but it was only the beginning. The knowledge these Aeldari held could unlock new paths of power, new ways to dominate the warp and bend it to my will.
But I knew their warnings were not empty. The warp was a treacherous domain, one that could just as easily destroy me as empower me. I would need to tread carefully, to balance my ambition with caution. Yet the potential rewards were too great to ignore.
As I considered my next moves, the ship's comm system crackled to life, a message from the bridge. "Commander, the webway portal is stable. We can return to base at your command."
"Excellent," I replied. "Take us in. We have much to prepare for."
The ship lurched as it altered course, heading towards the shimmering portal that would take us back to the safety of our base. I took one last look at the remnants of the battle, the broken husks of ships that had once been powerful vessels, now reduced to drifting wreckage. It was a reminder of the cost of war, and the price of ambition.
But for now, the spoils were mine, and I would make the most of them. The issues of dealing with Aeldari are no doubt their arrogance but nothing a few sessions with me and mother cant fix breaking minds and destroying inhibitions have always been the talent of the Drukhari and I would see it used to its fullest.
At the moment however I was more preoccupied with an issue my soul was growing astronomically fast if I had to categorize my soul strength I would likely be equivalent to a couple thousand year old Aeldari in soul strength alone the warp's call was strong to me while I was certainly no farseer yet I could tell at the rate my soul was growing I would likely see that day in no more than 600 years.
Dealing with this conundrum, my fleshly body would need to be upgraded more and more as time passes to keep my body on par with my soul strength. I don't want to be reduced to a chair like the corpse emperor. While there were differing reasons I would likely be reduced to the same state if I can't upgrade my body in time.
I sensed the halls with a flickering gaze of warp power and could feel it respond eagerly like a child attempting to impress its parent. It quite frankly terrified me in some ways how receptive it was to me. I knew of its corruption but the feeling of absolute power while channeling it was addictive alone much less to a species that feels everything thousands of times more deeply than human counterparts.
I let the warp go and felt at peace once again but famished I would have to begin torturing some slaves soon. I would need at least a few hours in the torture rooms to get back to full power I have a soul stone taken from a Aeldari youngling far to eager to board our ship. It would be the perfect tool to keep my hunger sated.
As the ship continued its course toward the portal, I turned my attention inward, contemplating the changes that were taking place within me. The rapid growth of my soul was both exhilarating and alarming, a force that demanded more from my physical form than it was currently capable of handling. I could feel the strain in every fiber of my being, a tension that would only worsen if left unchecked.
"Enhancements," I murmured to myself, my mind already racing through the possibilities. My body would need to be augmented, reinforced to withstand the growing power within. Flesh and bone would need to give way to something stronger, something that could endure the centuries of warfare and manipulation that lay ahead.
But these were concerns for another time. For now, I had to focus on more immediate needs. The sensation of hunger gnawed at me, a deep, insatiable craving that only the suffering of others could quell. It was a hunger that went beyond mere sustenance; it was a craving for the energy that came from the breaking of wills, the shattering of minds.
The ship's corridors twisted and turned as I made my way to the lower levels, where the torture chambers awaited. The air grew heavier, thicker with the scent of fear and despair, as I descended. My thoughts drifted to the soul stone I carried, a precious trophy taken from a young Aeldari who had been foolish enough to challenge us. It pulsed with a faint glow, a reservoir of potential that I intended to tap into.
As I entered the chamber, the familiar sights and sounds greeted me—the cold, metallic walls, the array of tools laid out with meticulous care, the muffled cries of those who had already begun to lose themselves in agony. I felt a surge of anticipation, a thrill that sent shivers down my spine.
Selecting a victim, I approached with deliberate slowness, savoring the fear that radiated from their trembling form. The soul stone in my hand pulsed more brightly now, as if eager to feed on the torment that was about to unfold.
"Let us begin," I whispered, as the first scream tore through the chamber. The sound was like music to my ears, a symphony of suffering that filled me with strength. I would drain them slowly, savoring every moment, every drop of pain that would sustain me.
The warp flickered at the edges of my consciousness, eager to join in the feast. I allowed it to seep in, just a little, letting its power intermingle with my own. The sensation was intoxicating, a heady blend of control and chaos that threatened to consume me.
But I would not be consumed. I was Drukhari, born to master pain, to bend it to my will. And as I stood over my prey, I knew that I would not stop until every last ounce of their life force had been drained, until I was sated and ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.
I reached for my communications table and contacted mother "Any new information on the Craftworld?" I asked, enjoying the last inklings of terror coursing through my now full body. "Some bits of pieces but nothing complete yet." I nodded and thumbed through some of the information appearing on the holo screen.
"I understand, keep me updated, have the assassin's been placed?" I asked, looking through some of the details. "The last of them was placed in position about 20 minutes ago assuming she shows up as usual she will be annihilated before she reaches her ship." I smiled.
"Fantastic." I laughed maniacally and watched as a screen showed up showing a regal looking drukhari with dark black hair and serrated armor approach a ship suddenly the void around her shifted she tensed and before she could properly react her and her retinue of 5 guards were engulfed in 4 phosphex grenade's a handy gift left by some old space marines that wanted to lay an ambush.
The screams of pure anguish that rung out as they burned to nothing but char and ash was nothing short of perfect. I watched as the syren burned and enjoyed that look of confusion as she looked for her aggressors melting piece by wretched piece. We used advanced cloaking tech along with a number of small favors to power down some of the defenses in the area.
I smiled and turned my head "assuming her clones aren't available like the haemonculi presumed we only have to focus our efforts on this one going forward." the screen flickered to the face of Malekith.