Melting in the darkness

Imperial Polis Teneb | Lower Town

One month after the victory over the Gatherers

The noise of construction machinery and tools flooded the ever-expanding labyrinthine tunnels that crisscrossed the lower levels. In distant cities and worlds, they housed millions of poor people, criminals and other outcasts. But that was far from the frontier; the Central Worlds provided the entire population with jobs and all the social necessities. And now a rather large crew was digging a new way underground, laying new pipes and cables for new areas. But one of the drills, while loosening the soil, emitted a jet of sparks and stalled. The incident was noticed only by one of the technicians who hurried over to the machine, as downtime could have been very expensive, and the sponsors of the work would have preferred something else. The man was dressed in an engineer's suit, reinforced with a techno-skeleton. A pair of oxygen tanks and a special mask were strapped to his back, as sometimes there were gas releases or clouds of radioactive dust on the technical levels, so this was essential. On his chest, he wore a special emblem, the crest of the Mechanicus, with images of drills behind it. This, and the yellow stripe across his overalls, indicated that he belonged to the engineering units of the Ordo Mechanicus, the Order's main workforce.

The man shook the dust from his hands and removed the controls from them, lifting the goggles to his forehead. The clear skin around his eyes contrasted sharply with the rest of his face. Blinking, he looked around the drill. But all he saw was a mercilessly bent drill bit and even pieces of torn metal. Realising that he couldn't do it alone, the man stepped back and began to massage his temples, his face showing that something bad was about to happen.

- Mar. - The worker moved the microphone closer to his mouth and waited for an answer. - Mar! - A buddy's voice came over the loudspeaker, and soon the engineer heard his friend's voice.

- What do you want with Garos? - He was now working in a different direction and was clearly unhappy to be distracted. - I'm almost done with the norm!

- The drill had faded. - The technician moved the loudspeaker back slightly as the scream of the Familiar seemed likely to blow out the windows.

- So? Fix it and get on with it. - I could tell by the intonation that things were starting to boil over on the other side.

- Completely out of whack, and you know what that means.

- No, no, no, no. No!

- Yes, I'm reporting it by the book.

- Do you know I promised to smash his light bulbs just this once?

- I know, but if we don't fix it now, we'll get our lightbulbs smashed for losing money.

- OK, but I won't talk to him. You do it.

- You have to throw the number back. - The system immediately beeped with a new message.

- Good luck with that; I'll get it out in three days after we've finished our shift.

- I'll keep that in mind, but I'm stronger than all of you so far.

- Mm-hmm. - The connection went dead, and Garos started dialling the number sent to him on the interface. As the call went through, he heard a voice on the other end, a lingering, slightly nasal, squeaky voice.

- Who's Mar again? - The man was clearly unhappy to be disturbed.

- Mr Riley, this is Garos #556-78, operator of the tunnelling bot in the north tunnel.

- What do you want? - his voice became even more gruff.

- Mr Riliy, the auger, is blunt and almost completely out of action. It is impossible to repair it on the spot. We can't do it without your help, we're just idle, and time is running out; we'll check .... soon.

- I got it, I got it. Stay tuned. I'll be there soon, savages. - The last words were whispered, but the technician heard everything perfectly. Everyone knew of Riliy's character, but only the harsh law saved him from death. All adepts were untouchable for ordinary people; they could be executed for it. And this adept, it was said, was only six months out of training, but instead of a place in the forge, he was sent here to us to "dig ditches".

Soon a scarlet cloak flickered between the machines, and the Adept slowly approached the technician. Sighing, the man walked towards him. Stretching out his arms, he waited for a dismissive wave from the mechanic.

- Show me what you've got. - He walked over to the damaged machine, pushing the technician away. He glanced at the drill, then turned to the technician with a twitch of his tongue. - So you didn't manage to break it?

- No, sir! I removed soil from a paved road then, and the depth reconnaissance showed no hard rock in the way.

- Then, look for something that might bend the tungsten carbide drill. Otherwise, you won't have enough organs to pay for it.

Swallowing nervously, the technician quickly approached the machine and examined the opposite wall. There was only a small hole. Peering into it, he activated the torch built into his helmet and saw nothing but a smooth grey surface.

- Uh, it's concrete, Master.

- What?" the Adept also peered into the hole and reached into his hand to feel the material. - Yes, concrete. Wait a moment. - He stepped away from the wall and pulled out a holograph. Immediately above it appeared a map of the existing and future tunnels and all the structures and buildings on the level. - Right, get the whole crew together quickly!

All one hundred men stood in a line, reluctantly waiting for the Adept to finish poring over his blueprints. Soon enough, he was done and quickly approached the formation.

- Right, we've got a problem here. Here he is," the Adept pointed at the technician, "he broke the drill against an unauthorised structure, so there will be no consequences for him. I've contacted the Master, and we have the authority to demolish all unauthorised structures, regardless of who built them. So get your vehicles ready, and we'll bring up the heavy laser and demolish everything in front of it. I don't want to make up for the downtime, nor do I. - That was the only time everyone agreed with him. - Then, let's get to work.

A huge drill took up almost the entire space of the tunnel. The wall had already been dug out of the ground and was a monolithic block of concrete extending an unknown distance to the left and right.

- Is everyone ready? - The Adept swept his eyes over the masked faces. - Then let us begin.

His fingers crawled over the console. Soon the batteries howled, and electricity began to flow through the conduits, powering the platform. Soon the emitter began to glow and glow. As the power peaked, the energy beam slammed into the wall with incredible speed, and rough rock began to flow from the point of contact. The temperature in the room began to rise sharply, forcing people to move away from the wall while the drilling took place.

The process took nearly an hour. The 'magma puddle was about to reach the drill holders when the system reported an obstruction, and the laser switched off. But then the strangest thing happened. A blast of icy air shot out of the hole, instantly freezing the liquid rock. The men were saved from such a fate by their protective suits, instantly covered in a crust of ice. But soon, the temperature levelled off, and the ice began to melt.

Cautiously approaching the breach, one of the technicians peered inside. The lantern's beam pierced the darkness and rushed in, moving sharply, trying to grab hold of something.

- Well..." the technician said. Judging by his attempts to see something, he didn't see anything. - It looks like a cellar, but there's no light, and I can't see anything. Nothing at all.

- Look from above. - Our mechanic came up and said.

- Ah, yes!" the technician was halfway down the hole. - There is something attached to the ceiling. I can't reach the lantern, but..." he twitched and stopped abruptly.

- Kir? - A few men ran to him and tried to pull him away, but something was holding him from that side. At that moment, his body began to twitch, and a strange wheezing sound was heard from the other side. Suddenly he gave in and collapsed to the ground. He was moving, so he was alive. The men rushing towards him jumped back as if stung. A panting sound, like an animal growl, grew louder from the man, and his convulsions grew stronger and louder. But after a few minutes, it subsided. He began to rise, but slowly. He leaned on his hands and began breathing heavily as if struggling to move. A woman ran to him and tried to pick him up, but he pushed her away with one hand, and she fell to the ground before him. Then he raised his head.

Streams of blood and some other white fluid were oozing from his eyes, and the eyes themselves were all black with bright red spots. An incomprehensible black slurry was also oozing from his mouth and nose. His eyes were constantly moving and seemed independent of each other. His head was constantly shaking as if his face was cramped. He cast a blurry glance around the crowded, huddled mass of people before turning his gaze to the woman lying there, trembling. He stared at her face momentarily, tilting his head at different angles, then howled and howled simultaneously and pounced on her with a single bound. As soon as he was over her, he sunk his black teeth into her throat, and scarlet liquid splashed across his face. At the same time, darkness rushed from the breach towards the remaining humans, rejoicing in their new and long-awaited prey. The lower levels were filled with screams, gasps, groans and pleas that no one could hear. And soon, the awakened darkness flooded the world in a torrent of blood, fire and death. For in that darkness lay something ancient and sinister, hidden underground millions of years ago...

Legionnaire Albin Dars | Garrison Barracks

I enjoyed the last few minutes before take-off, after which the daily training in marksmanship, physical training, weapons training and the like awaited me. After several years of service, it got so boring that sometimes I wanted to cry. But nothing could be done about it. But this time, the morning did not go well...

The silence of the morning was broken by the wail of a siren, which made everyone in the barracks jump up and hastily put on their armour. Soon the whole platoon was running with the other squads to the armoury. Once on the parade ground, we formed into centurions in our assigned positions. Later we were joined by junior officers and centurions who led their centurions to issue weapons. Despite the sirens, the gunfire and the explosions, there was no panic. Every legionary had undergone long disciplinary training, and maintaining calm and discipline in such situations was commonplace. Meanwhile, it was the turn of our century.

Walking up to a special vehicle, each Legionnaire was given the weapons allocated to him and sent back to the parade ground. Soon it was my turn. As I approached the reader, I placed my gloved hand on the reader and waited for my identity to be confirmed. Then the manipulators handed me my rifle and ammunition. Stepping away from the dispenser, I checked the rifle. Pressing a few buttons set the plates on the barrel in motion. After checking the change in firing modes and the energy stores in the centre, satisfied with the result, I inserted the power unit into the reactor, causing it to squeak quite loudly.

As I returned to the assembly point, I pondered what was happening. I had acted on automatic before, but now I had time to think. Looking at the walls that surrounded the garrison, forming a single fortress, I saw only a sparse chain of fighters on duty, firing somewhere below. So the answer was one - rebellion. If it was an enemy landing, they couldn't cover the distance in one night, and landing over the polis is a very bad idea. But if it's an uprising, we'll be finished in no time; strange that there's no return fire. Usually, the rebels seize the guardhouses and get some kind of weapons.

We lined up on the parade ground and waited for the Centurion to speak while the other centurions joined the defenders of the wall. Soon our Commander appeared.

- Legionaries! - we stretched out in unison and punched each other in the chest. - We have an emergency situation. Quarantine and red alert have been declared on the entire planet. The enemy is unknown and terrifying; we don't know what it is or how it came to be. The only thing the guards in the city have noticed is that the most vulnerable spot is right in the middle of the torso, between the lungs. Hits to other body parts won't do much damage, not even to the head. Shooting out the limbs does some good, but not much. The enemy is deadly at close range for a man not protected by armour. That will be all. Our Centurion will be sent to search for survivors next to them. - He gestured behind us, where the medics were helping a large group of people who had managed to enter the fortress before the gates closed. - Now to the wall until we repel the attack! Then we'll try to break through to the Temple in the centre; we can save the sisters. Follow me, march! - Centuria turned to the left in unison and followed the Commander to the lift. Soon it was carrying us to the top, from where only shouts, chirps, and the squeaking of guns could be heard. At the top, we had a view of the ruined city. Smoke billowed from many skyscrapers and Temple spires, and fires could be seen in many parts of the city. What could this enemy be?

Spreading myself out, I cautiously walked to the edge and looked down. Only to jump back. The sea seemed to have burst its banks and was trying to make its way over the wall. But it was only a sea of bodies, roaring like beasts, devouring corpses and drowning in blood, climbing over corpses and each other to the top, from where they were pelted with fire by soldiers growing in numbers and able to generate sufficient firepower. But the creatures were extraordinary.

I saw one corpse myself, and it couldn't have been otherwise; it reached out to me... it had no head! Others had no arms, no legs. Some were crawling with no limbs at all. And all this mingled with the roar over the piles of bodies, the sight of devouring creatures, the rattle of guns and the clatter of heavy weapons. Patrol jets and assault helicopters flew in the sky, covering whole swathes of the creatures with fire. Still, it made little difference to the thousands beneath the walls.

I had already dropped five batteries into the corpses, but the result made little difference. The dead congeners, the new creatures, were devoured and continued to climb the wall. Suddenly, something hissed to my right. Looking around, I saw a fighter in heavy armour pumping pressure into his monstrous flamethrower. Soon the gauge showed maximum, and the warrior came to the edge. Quietly, the trigger clicked, and a jet of blue flame from the chemical fuel hit the crowd of infected. The temperature was so high that the corpses crumbled to ash almost instantly, causing the mountains they had crawled up to begin to subside and our squad to perk up. Soon jets of flame were flying down every wall, but the onslaught of the creatures was not yet broken.

- "Sizzlers to battle, now! - The Primipil's voice carried over the wall, and some soldiers moved away from their positions beyond the marked area. The ground at their position began to move apart, and special turrets, considered a last resort when there was little chance of deterring the enemy, began to rise on the walls. These were fearsome weapons, destroying only biomass and ignoring other things. As soon as the weapons were brought to the surface, the barrels began to glow, and soon scarlet beams struck the hordes of creatures. A touch of the beam scattered ash over the bodies, and the number of attackers soon began to dwindle rapidly. While the "incinerators" wiped out the bulk of the enemy, jets of flame and impulse scorched the creatures beneath the walls. Then the strangest thing happened - the rest of the stricken turned and started running away from the walls, hiding in the alleys between the houses and the technical corridors. Our centuria was immediately removed from the walls, as were some of the other units, and we were replaced by light and heavy bots. On the other hand, we were again lined up on the parade ground.

- So," the tattered Centurion, who had lost his cloak, read us his orders again. - On the wall, we lost five - five seats in the last row were empty. - I've already given their personal numbers to the central vault. We'll remember them later. Meanwhile, we're getting ready to move out. We've managed to contact the Bearers of the Word, the defenders of the Temple. They've lost a few brothers, but all the sisters are safe. They've been locked inside, and they report a strange creature hanging around somewhere, sometimes trying to get through the gate. So now we're loading up the OADS* Nirils and heading for that area, trying to pick up the Sisters and get them into orbit. The rest of us will go into the outlying areas and try to get people out, but their chances are slim. Small towns are reported to be wiped out in minutes. The surviving population is less than five per cent. - At these words, the faces of the legionnaires turned white. There were almost fifteen billion people in the polis - a very large polis, and five per cent survivors meant a huge horde of the possessed. And if the planet had fallen almost entirely, then...

*- Orbital Atmospheric Landing Shuttle.

- Yes, you are right. A fleet is already on its way to burn the planet and all its creatures in one fell swoop, so we need to get as many people off this world as possible in time. Is our goal clear?

- Affirmative! - our formation shouted, and at that moment, our ship descended behind us, and we began to load it up.

I saw a lot during the ten-minute flight. Huge masses of creatures swept away the strongholds of the survivors. Like a living sea, the heavy bots crashed into them, tearing them apart with their bare hands; even some shadows flashed, but they were usually only visible for a few seconds. Other Nirils landed sniper teams on skyscrapers and dropped automatic turrets to hold off the hordes or, with luck, clear the square. Our flight should have come to an end soon, as the spires of the Temple were already visible behind the nearest houses.

- Well! - the Centurion's voice came over the armour speakers, "If our Nirils can't wait for us for the mission's duration, we'll set off a signal flare at the evacuation point. The fleet will send their shuttle there. These are the missiles. - He shook the bundle of tubes and put them into his bag. - One minute to launch. Stand by! - The compartment filled with the sounds of the reactor heating up and the batteries clanking.

Soon our shuttle was flying towards the Temple, besieged by a mob of besiegers.

- Sir, I have nowhere to drop you! - A pilot's voice cut through the loudspeaker.

- Damn it, let's get to the roof; we'll find a way down! - The shuttle turned sharply and began to descend over the roof. A few metres away, something blocked the sunlight. I looked up at the spire and could only make out a dark silhouette, but the extra pair of limbs and elongated head made it clear who it was.

- YOU BASTARD! - I tried to shout at the pilot, but the shuttle jerked sharply to the side at that moment. Unable to hold on, several fighters fell out of the compartment and flew screaming into the crowd of dead. I managed to grab my belt and hang on, dangling over the side. In the cockpit sat the creature, with a huge mouth instead of a head, devouring the pilot as the shuttle plunged towards the ground. We fell into the alleyways between the buildings, and as I waited for the height to be minimal, I uncrossed my arms and crashed to the ground. The car fell ten metres further, blocking the passage and crushing me against the wall of the morph. I could feel the vibrations building up as I lay on the ground. It was the rest of the creatures from the other side hurtling towards the fall. I could hear them, but I had to act.

I jumped to my feet and moved quickly towards the fallen shuttle. I crawled through the door, finding only the dead brothers, the footsteps getting heavier. I found a bundle of flares in the chaos and reached for them when suddenly one of the brothers twitched, hissed, and reached for me, but the straps prevented him from doing so. Undeterred, I managed to pull out my bag of rockets and spare batteries for my rifle. Still, soon all the brothers were grabbing at me, and the cabin was filled with growling and wheezing. A cursed black slurry poured from under their helmets. My brothers were turning into the same creatures.

At first, I wanted to put them out of their misery, but I decided to save my charges, and there was too little time left for that. I stepped back into the alley and began to look around. All paths led to the great streets, and there was nothing but death waiting for me. Cursing everything in the world, I saw a technical hatch. These tunnels connected all the buildings in the city, so I could use them to get to the Temple. Praising the Emperor, I quickly ran to him and tried to kick out the jammed lock, and I succeeded, but only after the fifth attempt. The stomping could be heard from behind the ship. I quickly threw my things into the hatch, looked around for the tower, or rather the direction to it, and then quickly climbed up. At that moment, there was a rumble and a clang of steel, which meant I had a second to go; they were already on the ship. The first critters appeared as soon as I got through and started to close the hatch. And as soon as I was completely underground and turned the valve that made the locks click and the hatch close, I could hear the stomping of hundreds of creatures above me.

My arms went weak from the strain, and I fell to the ground from two metres away. The armour beeped pitifully, telling me that the force of the impact had been absorbed, but I remained still and tried not to move. The ground shook noticeably from the crowds running overhead. I lay like that for about ten minutes, even after the stomping had stopped, just to be sure. After ensuring I could continue, I picked up my rifle and bags. After checking the battery, I headed down the tunnel towards the Temple...

I slowly went through the tunnel towards the Temple, looking for diagrams of the labyrinth on the walls. There was a bend ahead, a light flickering behind it. I could have walked faster, but the echoes carried the sounds of the stomping hordes of possessed, their growls and the occasional human scream. Most likely, they were finding humans to hide here and add to their horde. But it was far away, hopefully, farther than the cellars of the Temple. Leaning against the wall, I looked slowly around the corner. A light bulb flickered in the middle of the passage, and underneath it was the map I was looking for. The problem was that a dead body was underneath the map, on the floor. But remembering the fate of the Centuria, I prepared my rifle for battle, adjusted the gladius in its special sheath, and stepped cautiously out from around the corner.

Slowly, along the wall, I approached the corpse, carefully tucking the rifle behind my back until the magnetic grips clicked quietly, and I drew my sword. As quietly as possible, controlling every step, I approached the dead man. He didn't even move. Maybe... Now we'll see. Preparing to strike, I whistled softly. The body jerked immediately, and I struck the centre of his torso, trapping the possessed man's face in my steel gauntlet. The body twitched for a few more seconds, then fell silent, black liquid pouring from the wound and dust of the same colour pouring from his mouth. Satisfied that he was finally dead, I also cut off his head and then moved on to the plan. But first, let's do this the human way. I went to the light bulb and pushed it back in. The corridor was filled with a bright yellow light. Looking at the diagram, I quickly found my location. There were only a few passages between me and my destination. Still, one of them, the longest, ran over the tracks of the underground monorail, and they must be jammed with possessed people. With a sigh and a mapped-out route, I made my way through the tunnels.

I looked out carefully from behind the fence. Yes, I was right. All the tunnels were filled with fleeing hordes of the dead, heading for other parts of the city. There were likenesses of the creature that had shot down our Nirils here, only dozens of them. They climbed out of the deepest tunnels from somewhere in the darkness. Praying to the Emperor to punish these creatures, I crawled through the passage...

Soon I was climbing the technical stairs leading to the Temple, close to my goal. After quickly climbing the last few steps, I began to open the hatch that separated me from the room. As I began to open it, I saw the barrel of a heavy pulse cannon in front of me and the fighting brother of the Carrier.

- Name, rank. - The helmet speaker spoke in a harsh voice.

- Imperial Legionnaire Albin Dars, number 67-7889, Rescue Mission. - The barrel moved away from my head, and a large hand took its place, pulling me out of the hatch.

- The Centurion is waiting for you. - He turned and staggered back into the Temple, and I, shaking myself off, not wanting to look disorderly in front of the sisters even in this situation, followed the bearer. Beyond the row of cells was the central hall. At its end, opposite the entrance, was a statue of the Emperor, holding a sword in one hand, symbolising the power of the Empire, and Terra in the other, symbolising the unity of humanity. He looked out into the hall, and it seemed to everyone that he was looking out at them. That feeling was still there now. Some of the benches in the hall were occupied by the Sisters, and the Carriers surrounded the perimeter. The women were animated when they noticed me and rose from their seats. The oldest of them came towards me, along with the Centurion.

- We are so glad you have arrived! We have been praying for you. - The woman clasped her hands in a holy symbol. I stood there like a statue, waiting for the Centurion to ask, for it was a great honour to speak to a sister and one given to very few. And the Centurion was also a legionary, albeit of the first legions.

- Report, soldier, what is the evacuation plan and the situation in general? Where is your troop?

- My Lord, I am the last survivor of the Centuria, the transport was destroyed by a Morph, so I had to come to you through the technical tunnels. - There was a faint cry from the Sisters' side. - The general plan is that once the fleet and the Legion have finished evacuating all the survivors, the planet will be destroyed.

- Are we really doomed? - Kanonissa spoke again, her rank indicated by the gold jewellery on her dress, which I had not noticed before because of the dust. I looked at the Centurion and received permission to speak to her with a nod.

- Negative, mistress, I have flares for the occasion. The fleet will find us and send a shuttle. - I took a bundle of flares from my pouch and handed them to the Centurion. He took them carefully with his huge hand; after all, he had passed the Ascension and examined them.

- Well, then, it was time for action. Where was the evacuation point?

- When we landed, there was only the roof; the rest of the place was occupied by them. But these things are crawling around; they could hit the shuttle.

- Then I wasn't imagining it; something is hunting up there. I can still feel it. - He swept his eyes slowly across the ceiling. - Something alien to our beliefs and to humanity itself.

We stood there for another five minutes.

- Then let's do it. Now we go to the roof; if the creature is there, we must fight it. Otherwise, we die here. - At that moment, something heavy hit the door and all the guns were pointed in that direction.

- Sir, let me get the stranger out of here by buying you some time.

- This is a suicide; we have to evacuate everyone.

- My life is not even close to that of a sister or a great one. And if I die for the Emperor, I will serve him forever. - For a moment, he stared into my eyes, reflecting nothing but iron confidence.

- So be it, here. - He handed me a single rocket. - If you survive, we will wait. If you don't, we'll meet over the edge. - He stood up and led all the inhabitants behind him. My last brother, who had met me at the hatch, nodded and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor.

I glanced at the door buckling under the enemy's blows. After replacing the battery, I waited. Soon the door could not withstand another blow and fell to the floor, crushing the furniture left as a prop. A creature vaguely resembling a man began to enter. It had an elongated head, a human-like mouth that turned into a huge mouth, and two pairs of hands, one of which had blades instead of brushes and claws instead of fingers. The creature moved in a cloud of black mist that obscured its full outline. Only its eyes glowed red as it stared at me.

- You have long resisted my servants, mortal. Your hour should have come long ago. - The creature's long tongue slipped between its fangs like a serpent's. - We have waited thousands of years for this moment and will not allow you to take our prey and servants.

- Faith in the Emperor is with me, creature. As long as I draw breath, my Lord will protect me. - The rifle whistled, sending bursts of energy into the brat's face.

- This could be repaired quickly. - With a roar, the creature lunged at me, and I dashed down the corridors into the interior of the building. Knowing the Sentinels' route, I headed for the side branches, which soon led me to one of the smaller roofs. To get there, I had to gallop up ladders from the creature, which was piercing the granite walls with his body and climbing up the walls. As I reached the roof and breathed, I saw a trail of missile impulses in the sky and a fiery trail of incoming transporter fire.

- "Legionnaire, we've given the signal. We need to hold out for a few more minutes!" - The loudspeaker came to life.

- Roger, Centurion, my death gives you a chance, retreat. - I returned to where I came from and waited for the enemy to appear. Soon, a huge paw rose above the roof, its claws sinking rapidly into the surface. Then a body appeared. When I managed to fire on the move and even hit it, the creature's snout was full of lacerations, burns and black blood.

- Mortal dai'h! You have nowhere to run. - Soon, the whole carcass was on the roof.

We faced each other, an Imperial Legionnaire and a creature from ancient nightmares. And my life was now worth two minutes, no more, no less. Then it was not worth the delay. I stuck my gladius into the barrel and moved towards it.

Grinning, I squeezed the trigger, and a stream of energy began to tear chunks out of the spawn, piercing it through the chest. It roared again and lunged at me, swinging its paw for the kill. I didn't see it coming but dodged it in time, losing my shoulder pad. Scarlet drops dripped onto my armour, but I didn't notice. I stared intently at the centre of the wound caused by the gunfire. I didn't notice when something flashed as I rolled over. Behind the torn flesh, a black orb was implanted in the middle of his body, like the usual possessed, which meant I had to hit it there. I was about to pull the trigger, but instead of a pulse, I got a beep, indicating dead batteries. I slowly lowered the gun, disengaged the bayonet and picked up the missile. This would be the last attack. Gathering my strength, I charged at them, dodging their swings and darting between their paws. After circling three of them, I was about to strike the target so close, but at that moment, the last paw pierced my stomach, the bullet only half a metre away. I felt myself being lifted into the air, my sword falling from my hands, and soon I was dangling in front of the creature's mouth.

- Your time has come, Dai'h. - It began to lower me, swinging a second limb, but at that moment, I was closest to the wound, almost in front of it. Gathering my strength, I extended my arm towards the leaning creature and pressed the launch button. It was a moment before the projectile flew out of the tube and through the centre of the creature's torso, then continued, giving me momentum. The creature wobbled but loosened considerably as it tried to see what had happened. Seeing a chance, I jerked towards it and thrust my arms into the jelly ball, pulling it towards me as I slowly removed the claw. With one last tug, I pulled it out of the creature, spilling its blood and slipping off the claw. As I fell, I rolled to the side a few more times on inertia. On the other hand, the creature fell beside me after a few moments and slid to the roof's edge. Soon it fell, and from there, I heard the chuckling and roaring of the possessed. A funny death from its spawn.

I lay there and seemed to be watching the images. There I lay, no one. I blinked; a Nirylls with the Navy insignia on the fuselage hovered over me. I blinked again, I was being pulled in, and Kanonissa, tears in her eyes, was pressing my head to her chest. I feel no fear or grief. I will become a hero of the Empire, and my name will be inscribed on the lists of the monuments of Terra in Imperial gold. And my name will live forever. My eyes were slimy, and I could not open them again; it seemed to be my time. The important thing was that I had done my duty and destroyed this creature.

"That's where you're wrong, dah." - sounded in my head at the last moment, and I fell into darkness...