The ark is near

"Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be relearned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war." -part of the introductory to WH40k.

Metal constructs stood tall, yet seemed to bow down to time. A monument to the lost golden age of man now turned to rust and ruins. A construct made upon generations of knowledge allowing one to sail the sea of stars now laid barren, showing the decayed abyssal rot that is now man.

Starting at the old ark, Odin felt insulted. He felt a mellow but deep rage in his heart. He felt connected to this or more to the meaning this ship gave. A human only lived for under a mere century their legacy was made through blood, sweat and tears.

He felt the collective presence of man through the eons from this ship. It was like a father looking at his descendants. It was like watching his child die right in front of him. He felt sorrow and regret, but also felt burning rage.

Towards the ruinous powers, towards the Eldar that caused the strife of man, and towards man itself for drowning in its arrogance.

Odin clenched his fist before he continued his trek towards the ark. Behind him, four figures followed dawn in silver power armor. Their armor was smaller than normal Astartes power armor, but these were all improved versions made for normal men.

While the power armor was stripped a bit, taking off most life support equipment, the suit still provided immense defense and increased physical stats. A normal man from the 21st century could easily run at 30mph and carry two tons. If they were to be augmented and could fully connect to the suit, they would become demi-gods of war.

The group consisted of Sigrid, Ragnar, Greg, and Fyr. Greg had changed during the two weeks after the beast horde's attack. His old body, which looked to be a breath away from turning to dust, had now reverted to when he was in his forties.

In his youth, Greg had been a warrior. It wasn't until he turned 70 that he decided to help humanity by becoming a scientist Greg was considered the greatest mind in the history of Axis-9. Greg's family line was one of the most well-documented being traced back to the captain of the ark.

Greg was very excited to return to his 'ancestral home' as he called it. He was also happy to have a younger body. His mind felt rapid, his body wasn't fatigued anymore, and he felt like he could take on the stars.

As they made their way, more and more beasts appeared. From small groups of 3-5 to large groups of 15-30 and they were of the most dangerous kind. They even saw beasts that did not like to be in groups sticking together like the giant drakes or kunjin birds.

Many of these beasts required an army to fight alone, but now in groups, it was a terrifying sight to see. Odin silently guided the group without disturbing the beast.

Soon, the woods cleared, and a dilapidated settlement came into view. The houses and walls made of cement and metal stood parts crumbling after millennia of erosion.

The group quickly searched the settlement for any items but came out empty-handed. The group left and continued their journey to the ark. After an hour of travel, Odin stopped the group.

"Stay here don't cross this line unless you want your DNA to turn into that of a banana." Odin said as he made a line on the ground using his feet.

Odin turned into a blur as he ran into the invisible ocean of radiation.

"Uh, what...?" Sigrid said as she looked at the place Odin was just at.

"Odin's right, the place in front of us is riddled with radiation. Even the suit can't handle it, but how is there still life? Any normal plant life couldn't survive here. It's like an ocean of invisible magma?" Greg said as he looked at the HUD in his helmet.

"Then how is he going to reach the ark?" Ragnar asked.

"It's all up to him. We can't chase him. If we do, we'll die in a few minutes." Greg said solemnly.

Odin's steps shook the ground as he made his way through the irradiated forest. His exposed head made contact with the radiation, but his biologically enhanced body seemed to turn into a depleted battery and absorbed the energy and store it. Odin's body felt highly energetic, like he had been given every stimulant in the universe.

Odin ran for half a day without rest. He was only ten miles away from the ark. The moonlight guided his way as he ran in a straight line without caring for obstructions.

Odin soon saw it the huge fluctuation of energy that came from the huge nuclear reactor that powered the ark. He also saw the creature that had made this irradiated wasteland its home.

In the history of Axis-9, there were four accounts of a beast that resembles a drake and carried the pure annihilation of the atom bomb. Now there was a fifth account of the legendary Radraken, the eternal living nuclear bomb.

As the two made eye contact, Odin felt his soul cry out in joy. His right fist clenched and a dark blade appeared. The sword changed forms and turned into something fitting to slay a dragon kin. The edge of the blade glowed a neon yellow as a storm brewed above the two.

The dragon slowly got up as Odin made his way toward the large beast. The cold green eyes met with apathetic grey eyes, claws met with a single sword, and beams of radiation met with the wrath of Zeus.

The beast that was the size of an entire city was played like a toy, as Odin used its huge size to his advantage. Odin's sword tore into the translucent green scales and wounded the dragon. It roared in anger, sending Odin flying back a mile away, but he got up and charged at his newfound toy.

The dragon spun as Odin got close and its spiked tail hit Odin, sending him flying once more. Odin shouted as he flew.

"Is that all you're going to do? Launch me away over and over. Do you have no shame you're the kin of a dragon, are you not? Dragons guard reality. Their mere words alter fate and rip apart the code of reality, yet you fight like this?"

The Radraken did not understand Odin, but it knew Odin was saying negative things. It roared and sent another beam towards Odin. Odin was soon fully covered in his armor. As the beam neared, Odin teleported and appeared in front of the beast.

"As there is no dragon here, I shall teach you how to behave." Odin said as he grabbed the beast's snout and tore into the Radraken's head.

It took no time before he broke through the translucent bone and turned the brain of the beast into radioactive mush. Translucent green blood flowed out of the head, which Odin drank without thought.

"Dragon slain." Odin said the body of the Radraken turned into mist, leaving behind a green gem.

This was the heart of a dragon, or more like the heart of a drake. This gem contained the remaining energy of the dragon kin. This one contained pure radioactive energy, which he could probably use it to make a rad bomb or something.

Odin sat down and took a breather. He wasn't tired, but mentally he was. Odin looked at the ark and he felt hope even if humanity had left they still left their mark.