"It is good to meet face to face as it were." The Eldar God said to me. The others nodded and few grimaced at me. They didnt try to hide their distaste.
"Nice to meet you specifically." I greeted him back as politely as I could then the others. When I got to the ones with the distaste I was not polite. "What the hell's your problem you shit heels? You think just because you are some God you won't get my ire. I will gladly stab you and eat the remainder of your power. Go ahead and test me!" The look on their faces was priceless.
Kaine chuckled. "That's more like it. I am liking him more and more now."
"Peh, foolish mortal you scare no one." The Storm God said. He had a smug look on his face that just begged to be hit. "You need us."
"Yeah... not your punching bag.. so.." I released my power as an Overload and my Psycho/Soul Power into the room. I let it wash over them and bolstered me. If they were gonna throw there weight around so will I. "Your pretty arrogant for a dying God. Shall we speed up the process? Its night like you are any help in this day and age. And if the track record is correct you have failed over and over again to keep the Eldar safe. No, let's see.." I pulled out Slannesh and point it directly at him. "I can kill you here and now before the others release enough power to hurt me."
"You dare!' The Moon Goddess said. I didnt even look at her and fired a Concussive Shot at her face. I didnt like her. Not one bit anyway.
"Boom!" The shot passed through her weak defense and cut up her face. A collective gasp went out. Galtea then appeared next to me. She looked a little angry at them. She said nothing.
"Azul enough. They were out of turn but you have to relax just a little." Zion said giving me a smirk. He was quite happy that I shot her. But his eyes looked at the sword. I saw a fleeting look of pity there before it went away. " For me please put the sword down"
"Hmmm very well then." I pointed the blade down. I didnt put it away though. "So what's next?"
"Well, they want you to complete a trial to prove your worth. Despite the time we could spare."
"Yeah, dont have time for that. Can you just wake the Craftworld up and I go out there and kick some Tyrannid butt?"
"No!" A Male and female said togethor. They were embracing each other and refused to depart. I knew who they were. The two the Wood Elves worshipped. Then it dawned on me.
"Zion are all.. are all of them the different deities throughout the cycles? If so .. if so damn this is just jacked up."
"They are. Just the last remnants of themselves." Zion nodded and looked at me solemnly. "Glad you realized. You are not as barbaric as some of them think." His gaze went to the side looking at the others.
"Uhhh, thanks. So how long would it take to do one trial?"
"Let me speak," Khaine said Stepping forward and down to human height. He was about 10 feet from me. "A trial of combat from me. You will face a warrior of my choosing."
"Alright, that sounds fair." I nodded that would take a few minutes tops. I would either win or lose. "Let's begin." He stepped back and a warrior formed where he just stood. A double-bladed axe on his shoulder.
"He looked at me and his eyes lit up in fury. His attack came fast and powerful. The savagery was intense. I redirected my shield to just in the front of me. When the axe made contact it absorbed it. With a flex of my arm, I reached out for a grab at his throat. He attempted to move the axe from the shield but couldn't. I had wrapped it in tendrils of water. Sending some that headed for his hands to cut them up.
"Azul, mind switching to a pure martial aspect?" Khaine asked. I didnt answer as I dropped my shield and jumped forward kicking my opponent in the chest. He stumbled back and brought his Axe up to attack my chest. I deflected it with a left palm strike. It stung slightly.
"Korhil you are quite deadly. Definitely the you from the End Times." I said as I brought my sword up for a lunging strike. "But just that. Deadly but not dangerous. The other you would have given me some trouble. But this version of you.." I stopped when his axe came down swinging at my midsection. I stepped in bringing my sword under his left armpit. The lunge was a feint. Taking the blow from the shaft of the weapon was nothing. The axe power resided in its top section. I flicked my right hand up cutting his arm off with ease.
"Ahh," Korhil screamed. I didnt stop my attack as I brought my sword arm back down heading for his neck. Then I felt it. Someone had activated some strong physic power. I activated my shield and jumped back to Galtea.
"Hehe," Galtea chuckled. "They cant hurt me silly. But the thought you wanted shield me was nice."
"I forgot," I said with a self-deprecating smile. Pulling my shield to cover myself I looked up. Korhil had his arm reattached and stared at me. "You lose. But that was fun."
"Thank you," Korhil said hoarsely. He reached his axe out handing it to me. I grabbed it and felt its weight and power.
'This would have hurt like hell if it connected.' Handing it back to him he shook his head no. I tucked it away into my inventory but it reappeared on my back. "I dont have any real training with an axe. I barely have training in the sword besides my Sacaen and a few others here and there."
"The axe will teach you," Korhil said. He then turned to Khaine. "May I rest now?"
"Of course," Khaine said and nodded. A bloody mist covered him and he was gone.
"I take it that princess he fought with didnt survives did she?" Khaine shook his head no. I looked to Galtea, is there any way she is in the System. Her eyes flashed for a moment.
"She is not. Gripped by chaos the same as 90% of the others." Galtea had a pensive look. "We can send Korhil there but... it's an endless torment for the two."
"Yeah no." I shook my head and looked back at Zion. "What is next?"
"A battle of the soul. A hard one at that. For this, you have my apologies." Zion gestured to the Moon Goddes who reached her arm out. I felt something come out of me.
Standing in front of me was, well me. Just old. About 90 or early 100s. I was in a wheelchair with an Iv attached. I looked horrible.
I stepped back and tried to contain myself. Everything in me raged at the sight. I wanted to kill myself. I barely found my voice after a few minutes.
"What the hell Zion?!" I yelled angrily.
Galtea just stared never looking away. I couldn't read what her thoughts were at the time.
I thrust the sword out straight at old men's chest. The very sight of myself in this state was driving me mad. Right before the sword made contact with his chest. I felt Galtea and one other biotic strand. They hope I wouldn't do it.
"Rahh!" The sword disappeared into my inventory with a quick thought from me. "Dammit!" I punched the floor as I kneeled in front myself. Looking up I stared at old me. "Did we accomplish anything? Did we get married? Did we have children? Did we mattered?"
"Heee, hee," Old me wheezed. "Accomplish yes. As much as a common man could anyway. Married no. We couldn't get over the failed relationships of the past. As for children that's another no in the traditional sense."
"Traditional.. what the? Did we adopt or something?"
"No, foster kids. A lot of them when I hit my 60s. As far as matters we did to a select few. Our friends did well with our help. There kids turned out alright. I never spent a birthday alone. Never went a week with out a phone call asking how I was doing. So yeah we mattered yah poozer."
"You suck."
"You suck. I dont see a wedding band on your finger. Why arent you married yet?"
"Been busy fighting for my life. That's why."
"Yeah, yeah sure." Old me stood up. The effort alone looked exhausting. "If I am gonna die again, I will do it on my feet this time."
"Alright, you old bastard." I stood up and reached my hand out. "Not really death just returning to the source."
"Heh!" Old me snorted. "I am the source. You just took att the personality with you to this place. No matter You are going to learn alot real soon. Some many games since you have been here." As soon as our hands' touch I received his memories. My memories. He was content, I was not. "I am done with these trials. Time to go get wrecked by a horde of Nids." I started walking out.
"Wait Azul!" Galtea yelled at me. I was exhausted spiritually. "You should continue."
"Not at all. So far everything has been getting worst. I dont even want to guess at the next trial." I made to the door before I was stopped by Galtea.
"Just do one more." Galtea pleaded.
"Fine, just one more. As long as it doesnt waste to much time." I turned around and watched as the next one stepped forward. It was a woman. I did not like her look.
"The next trial is that of the heart." She said giving me a sultry look. It creeped me out. A white light hit me in the chest. A dagger floated in front of me. "You will live all your past loves or stab your self in the heart..."
I didnt wait till she finished as I plugged the dagger into my heart. I stabbed and twisted one more for good measure. I threw the dagger at her. "Are we done." I did not want to relive those. That sounded like the torture of the highest level.
"Azul.. are you ok?" Galtea asked. I gave her a shrug.
"Ok, so we are done. Bye bye now." I made it to the door before I was stopped. "Whay is it now?"
"You only have a few more to go," Zion said. "Completing them will help you greatly."
"Nah, that's ok. I was just supposed to come here and get a Craftworld to help me fight. Not all this." I wanted to sleep now. Damn old me made me tired. "Thanks for the axe. It is about to get a hell of a workout."
"Will you reconsider?" Zion asked. His tone put me on edge a little.
"No." I had the door opened and almost took a step out. Then shit became wonky.
System: World has made a request. User is disabled for five minutes.
'What the?! I cant move.' I tried to activate my biotics. Before I could think of something to do with them I was yanked into the air and thrown into the urn. It then caught fire. Not magical fire like in Warhammer Fantasy. No, bloody Psyker Fire. Warp fire dammit.
"Ahhhh! Stop!" My biotics went into overdrive trying to dull the pain. My SoulPower started growing along with my Psycho Power. "Arrghhh get me out of here!" I tried to move but found my muscle all burned off. I didnt even see when my flesh disappeared. The only thing keeping me standing were my powers. My power as an Overlord stated to rise more and more. As long as I had the will to stand it would grow. Those five minutes felt like an eternity. I could feel Galtea nearby watching, worrying. Wanting to reach out but holding back.
When the fire dissipates I watch as my body regrow its muscles and organs. In the reflection of the urn, I could see my right eye glowing a pinkish red. My left glowing whitish blue. Before my muscle finished I climbed out of the urn. I stumbled over the side. I didnt have the energy to speak. I crawled to the exit.
"I am sorry my adopted son. Truly I am." I heard Zion say. I felt a hand press on my shoulder as I crawled. I didnt care who it was, I just kept moving. Then I felt a burning in my head. More memories. Memories of this me and an Eldar that was the Avatar of Zion. He raised the little me and tried his best to guide me as he could. But even the fraction of my soul was to set in its ways. I didnt mind being ostracized as I grew into the man I was. I was taught a good bit by Zion. Mostly spiritual stuff. A lot of customs and lore. He was grooming to at least have the memory of the race. He trusted the Eldar would live on in some way through me. I would have felt bad but I was to screwed up to feel anything really.
I pushed the door opened in feel into the arms of someone. Didnt know who. I went to sleep. Old man me made me to tired.
I woke up the next day. I was not alone. All in the room were the Gladiators I brought with me. Even the other team I sent out.
'Galtea, Lunabella are you two ok?' I thought enough to ask them first.
'I am fine my Tamer.' Lunabella said sleepily. 'Galtea is helping the others. Would you like me to notify her?'
'No that is fine. Head back to sleep.' I felt my body was fine and my thinking was a little sharper.
"Alright, so what did I miss?" I asked no one specifically. "Dont all of you speak at once."
"We found some more fighters. Not much but a few." A Gladiator about medium build said to me. I blink and rembered his name.
"Thanks, Tamlien. I doubt it will make a major difference but have them trained on the mortars. That will help the most."
"Of course," Tamlien said before darting off. When he opened the door a group of Eldar came in. A group of 15 to be exact.
"Greetings... Primarch." The lead man said.
"Hi." I swung my feet off the bed and noticed I was naked. Looking down all my scars were gone and a lot of my body hair as well. "Well, that's different," I said looking down. Seeing my clothes to the side I pulled them over. Thank god for regen clothing.