"Stop gawking and ready your melee weapon. We're about to undertake the most crucial task," Qin Mo commanded as Yoen stared in awe at the Knight of Valor.
Yoen swiftly slung his gravity hammer from his back, gripping it with one hand, and then noticed Qin Mo unfastening his chainsword, offering it to him.
"Soon, you'll understand why we need close-combat weapons," Qin Mo gestured for Yoen to take the chainsword. "This one has special properties. Try wielding it."
Yoen accepted the chainsword reverently, gripping it in his right hand as he admired the weapon, his excitement barely contained.
Power armor, the Double-Headed Eagle Scepter, the chainsword—these three things together embodied Qin Mo's iconic image. When he had dealt with the insurgents in the Undercity, all the planetary defense forces had witnessed him descend from the sky, clad in power armor, wielding the scepter and chainsword, wreaking havoc and turning the tide of battle.
Later, recruitment posters across the central cities of the New Kato Undercity and several other undercities featured a statue of Qin Mo—left hand raised high with the Double-Headed Eagle Scepter, chainsword in the right, pointing forward. Below, the poster bore the words: "I need you. The Emperor needs you!"
Statues of Qin Mo, in the same pose as the poster, now stood in the city centers of New Kato and the lower-tier cities beneath the Hive.
These two items—a chainsword and the Double-Headed Eagle Scepter—had captured the faith of so many that, in the Warhammer universe, they might very well produce some extraordinary, almost "enchanted" effects.
"And what will you be using?" Yoen inquired.
"I'll just bash them to death with this," Qin Mo replied, pointing to the Double-Headed Eagle atop his scepter.
Though Yoen felt this choice was odd, he respected Qin Mo's decision, nodding silently in agreement.
Without further delay, the two launched themselves toward the fortress' central core, using their jetpacks.
...
In the central control room of the fortress, Arken and Kreye monitored the screens intently.
The displays showed the status of each corridor, and in one, two intruders had suddenly appeared.
Most of the fortress' defenders had already been redeployed to the walls, leaving few soldiers behind to guard the core. There weren't enough remaining even to slow those two down.
Beams of light pierced the narrow corridors, soldiers falling in waves as the two figures advanced, their hands firing shotgun-like blasts of laser fire, leaving no one behind.
Bullets and lasers alike failed to hit the intruders, as though the soldiers were intentionally missing their marks.
The two figures steadily approached the fortress' core, temporarily stopped by a bulkhead blocking their path.
Behind the bulkhead was the fortress' training ground, where a tank, three heavy mortars, and nearly a thousand soldiers had formed a defensive line, all aiming their weapons at the gate, awaiting with bated breath.
The bulkhead wasn't breached. The two simply passed through it as though it wasn't there. One of them released a bolt of lightning, and then the screens went dark.
"This makes no sense at all," Kreye muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. Even though all he could see was a blank spot on the monitor, the fact that these two had passed through an intact bulkhead was undeniable.
Arken, far too worried for idle chatter, grabbed his communicator and urgently inquired of the soldiers stationed behind the bulkhead: "Company Six, report! What's happening on your end?"
No response came.
Arken repeated his question several times until, at last, a voice replied.
"They're nothing but charred remains now. Don't worry, you and that thing are next."
The chilling message left Arken gasping for breath. He turned toward Kreye, panic evident in his eyes.
Kreye seemed confused. "You and that thing are next... How could he possibly know about me? Have you been telling people about summoning me?" Kreye asked, his tone suspicious.
"Do you take me for a fool?" Arken shot back.
Kreye pondered for a moment before nodding. "Yes."
"I would never tell anyone!" Arken protested, banging the monitor in frustration as he began pacing in circles, overwhelmed with anxiety.
The whole situation seemed increasingly bizarre.
How could the intruders know about the fortress beneath the glacier? Even knowing about the fortress would be one thing, but how could they pinpoint Arken and Kreye's location? Was there any explanation beyond the presence of a traitor?
"It was an Eldar who informed them about the fortress beneath the glacier," Kreye suddenly revealed, his insights cutting through the chaos. "There's no traitor among your ranks. Your subordinates, rare as it is, are loyal. They would all gladly give their lives to protect you."
Having finished his analysis, Kreye turned and offered Arken an approving glance. "You may be nothing of consequence, but to have such loyal subordinates—even that Venomspike before, and now these soldiers—you do have a talent for leadership. No wonder you were once governor of three planets."
"Is now really the time for flattery?!" Arken snapped, his frustration nearing madness from the pressure.
On the screens, the two intruders appeared once more, drawing ever closer to Arken's location.
Arken whirled to face Kreye, seeing the demon still calm and unperturbed. Furious and bewildered, he demanded, "Aren't you afraid? What if they storm in here and kill you too?"
"I cannot be killed—only banished. I am bound by the rules of your summoning in this material universe. I am unlike other demons. I despise this form. I would much rather be gone," Kreye's cold, mocking voice echoed through his beak-like mouth.
Arken's heart sank. He had hoped the demon would stand by him, but now realized it cared nothing for their shared fate.
Desperate, Arken turned another circle before a thought struck him. "Your true name! If I know your true name, I can destroy you! Tell me your name!"
"Kghrraa'nai'iiilr'thl..."
"Stop!"
Arken cut Kreye off, exasperated. "I can't remember that."
"It wouldn't matter even if you could. I don't have to tell you my true name. I could just make one up," Kreye chuckled.
At this revelation, Arken finally broke down, collapsing against the wall in despair.
Outside, the sounds of battle grew louder, followed by heavy footsteps. Desperation taking over, Arken reached behind his back and unsheathed a power sword.
"I am a noble. I will not die cowering," he snarled, gripping the sword tightly.
"By all means," Kreye gestured toward the door.
Arken pressed his back to the wall, preparing to charge. His body trembled, but his expression was fierce.
Suddenly, the metal door to the control room was kicked open.
"For the Lord of Wisdom! Aaaah! For the Lord of Wisdom!" Arken bellowed as he charged. The moment he crossed the threshold, it was as if a massive hammer had struck him, reducing his body to a lifeless heap.
Looking down at the remains, Yoen, having just activated his gravity shield, muttered, "What the hell was that?"
"Who cares what it was!" Qin Mo, also shielded, phased through the wall, his eyes fixed on the bird-like demon before him. "Prepare for battle."