30 years
The world of Nyx was a desolate, arid planet, barely habitable and far from the guiding light of the Astronomican. Once a thriving outpost of the Imperium, it had long been forgotten, left to wither in the grip of its dying sun.
Nyx was chosen for this purpose. The planet had little strategic value, but its isolation made it an ideal target for a Drukhari raid. The human population, though small, was resilient, surviving in underground cities that shielded them from the planet's harsh environment. These were no ordinary colonists; they were the descendants of warriors and survivors, hardened by centuries of struggle.
The assault began with the arrival of the Drukhari fleet, sleek and menacing, emerging from the webway with the silence of a predator. The skies of Nyx darkened as the fleet cast its shadow over the barren landscape. The humans, sensing the impending doom, activated their ancient defenses, but these were relics of a bygone age, no match for the advanced technology of the Drukhari.
I watched from the command deck of my personal raider, a cruel smile playing on my lips as my forces descended upon the planet. The Drukhari struck with the precision of a scalpel, targeting key points across the surface. Their aim was not to conquer through sheer force, but to instill terror, to break the will of their enemies before the killing blow was delivered.
The first target was the planetary governor's palace, a once-grand structure now half-buried beneath the shifting sands. I personally led the assault, relishing the opportunity to instill fear directly into the heart of Nyx's leadership. My raider skimmed over the surface, it's dark lances spearing through the palace's defenses with ease. The humans fought back but they were hopelessly outmatched. Within minutes, the palace was in ruins, and the governor was dragged before me, his face a mask of defiance and terror.
I admired the man's courage, but it would not save him. I simply took my time, savoring the governor's screams as I methodically dismembered him, feeding off the agony that radiated from his victim. The act was not just one of sadism, but of power—I wanted the people of Nyx to know what awaited them.
With the governor's death, the planet's leadership crumbled. The remaining officials and military leaders were hunted down, captured, or slaughtered. The Drukhari spread out across Nyx, their raiding parties striking at random, ensuring that no place was safe. The humans retreated further into their underground cities, but even there, the Drukhari pursued them, using their knowledge of the webway to appear and disappear at will.
As the days passed, the atmosphere of Nyx grew heavy with despair. The once-proud colonists, who had survived for generations against all odds, found themselves facing a foe unlike any they had encountered before. The Drukhari were not interested in conquest for its own sake; they wanted to see the humans suffer, to watch as hope was slowly extinguished from their eyes.
God the sensation of having a world in fear is one unlike any other and to see them scurry underground like rats only brought on more and more pleasure. I knew how to break worlds. I have been doing it with mothers forces for years now. I was 37 years old and looked barely 18. My body was long lithe but strong and filled with a muscle not seen among others of my kind.
Unlike the spindly and more lithe image of perfection of our race my form looked shockingly built like carved from marble strong yet lithe like an agile killing machine tall far taller than my human and even most drukhari counterparts I was a beast of a thing with multiple hearts and strong muscles uncommon among my race.
The experiments had worked splendidly and my clones in this new body occupied my resurrection chambers spread throughout some known and unknown parts of the galaxy. I called my new found race the voidblade void to symbolize the darkness of the drukhari and blade to signify the lethal efficiency of the space marines.
Though a bit tacky for my tastes it did roll off the tongue and words have meaning. Especially for one so touched by the warp as I. Years of practice and training with the help of my now advisors although it took a good 5 years to break the both of them they are quite honest now.
Now where was I? Ah yes I was capturing more imperial citizens to sell. I chuckle and spot a base with the scanners and send a raiding party. We will leave this world soon but it's always best to get the most you can from every good meal. Besides this is the appetizer we have that damned craftworld to conquer.
I soon realized my raiding party was in trouble despite the humans dire situation, some of the humans attempted to resist. A group of survivors, led by a former Imperial Guard officer, managed to rally a small force and launch a counterattack. They struck at the Drukhari raiding party, using guerrilla tactics to inflict as much damage as possible. For a brief moment, it seemed as though they might succeed, that they might drive the invaders back.
Thankfully I had anticipated such a move. I allowed the humans to score a few minor victories, luring them into a false sense of hope. Then, when they were at their most vulnerable, I struck. The final battle took place in the catacombs beneath Nyx's largest city. The humans fought with desperation, knowing that defeat meant extinction. But they were no match for the Drukhari's superior firepower and ruthless cunning.
Soon I left their world ships filled to the brim with new slaves for the areas or experimental subjects depending on their uses. I was generous enough to leave 2 small outposts free of drukhari attacks. I cant have them all dying out now can I? I need to farm their population for at least a few centuries.
I smiled looking out at the webway I had grown much during these years our Cult has grown by at least 3x and mother is soon to start the preparations for a major offensive soon if all goes well we will be selling Aeldari slaves by the hundreds and that damned malekith will be spiked from the front of my cruiser.
My soul boiled with hatred and the warp responded manifestations of hellfire and cackling filled the air around me but I quickly banished it. There is a time and a place for calling forth the warp and for now I need to keep all my abilities underwraps still.