Chapter 13: More Untouchable Than an Untouchable, More Demonic Than a Daemon

Chapter 13: More Untouchable Than an Untouchable, More Demonic Than a Daemon

Verre walked to Lucan's side and whispered in his ear.

"Captain, everything is ready. The families of the selected soldiers have served the Dynasty for generations; they are reliable."

Lucan nodded silently.

"Scott, put aside your work for now. I have something I want to discuss with you regarding the lower decks."

"Coming right away, Captain!"

Hearing Lucan's call, Scott, still unaware of the impending danger, quickly walked from the Cogitator in the corner towards Lucan.

However, just as he reached the central walkway of the bridge, the soldiers in combat suits suddenly made their move.

They rushed forward, instantly restraining Scott's arms, then slammed him to the ground. Even if Scott was a battle-hardened soldier who had undergone certain gene-enhancements, mortal physical strength was still insignificant before the power of combat armor.

Several gun muzzles were immediately aimed at Scott, who was pinned to the floor. This sudden turn of events caused gasps of surprise from the crew on the bridge.

"In my capacity as Acting Captain, I hereby arrest you, Scott! Everyone else, please leave the bridge for now!" Lucan declared.

Scott, still pinned to the ground, struggled.

"Why?! What have I done wrong, Captain?! Didn't you say punishment would wait until after the riot ended? Purser Verre, say something for me! I've served the Dynasty for so many years, why are you doing this to me?"

"Say something for you? You have the gall to mention your years of service to the Dynasty! The Dynasty brought you up from the lower decks, gave you wealth, gave you honor, even made you the Master of Discipline of this flagship! But what have you done? Don't you know in your heart?" Verre spat.

"I am loyal! I have done nothing!"

"Then why did you conceal the fact that you went to the bottom hold with Lord Ludwig? What exactly were you looking for down there!" Verre was genuinely furious. His loyalty to the Dynasty surpassed even his loyalty to the Imperium, perhaps even his faith in the God-Emperor.

Scott's actions before him were unforgivable.

"You can choose not to speak now, but I will make you speak very soon," Verre said, drawing the chainsword from his belt and preparing to approach Scott. He intended to remove Scott's hands and feet first; as long as he could still talk, that was enough.

The expression on the previously agitated Scott instantly turned cold.

Looking at Verre's face, he knew that no matter how he explained or concealed things, it was useless. Verre and this detestable Acting Captain had already decided he was guilty.

"Lucan… it's all your fault. It's all because of these soldiers who suddenly appeared by your side! Originally, they would never have had the chance to counter-attack into the lower decks, and I would not have been exposed!"

Scott's expression began to twist.

Hearing Scott's admission, Verre angrily tried to surge forward and strike but was stopped by Lucan.

"Verre! Calm down! The most important thing is to find out from him what exactly is hidden in the bottom hold, and where the Rogue Trader went!"

Lucan also stepped down from the captain's position and walked towards Scott.

However, as soon as Lucan stepped off the dais, he felt something was wrong. Lucan discovered that his exhaled breath was condensing into mist, and the temperature on the entire bridge began to drop suddenly.

The restrained Scott, his head bowed, was muttering something, so softly that even the soldiers beside him couldn't hear clearly.

But Lucan, whose awakened psychic senses were terrifyingly sharp, heard it clearly.

"Oh, Gods of Chaos… I hereby offer my soul to you…"

As Scott mumbled, a psychic energy surged from his body.

The soldiers restraining Scott were astonished to find their brand-new power armor beginning to decay at an extremely rapid rate. By the time they tried to pull their hands away from Scott, it was too late. The decay spread rapidly up their arms, affecting not just the combat suits but also the flesh beneath, which began to wither and rot.

Then, a psychic shockwave spread outwards, catching the surrounding soldiers completely off guard. Marines in CMC-400 combat suits were thrown to the ground. Only the Marauders could hold their ground, but the powerful impact still caused the soldiers inside their armor to feel their blood churn. A psychic shield flickered into existence around Scott.

"You're a psyker?!" Verre exclaimed. Scott had hidden his psyker abilities all this time? For so many years, without a single uncontrolled manifestation?!

Freed from his restraints, Scott raised his arm and pointed it at Lucan.

A wave of destructive energy instantly shot towards Lucan. Scott smiled, a savage grin. The sacrifices he had made, offering his soul to unknown entities in the Warp, had bought him this power. In his mind, the image of Lucan being instantly torn apart by his psychic power had already appeared. As long as Lucan died, his own death would be worth it.

"Captain, look out!"

Verre tried to push Lucan aside, but how could he be faster than psychic energy?

Seeing the psychic attack rushing towards him, Lucan was also greatly alarmed.

"Damn it! I was careless!"

Lucan desperately tried to move his body, but he was still a fraction too late.

The psychic spell, imbued with destructive power, struck Lucan squarely.

Just when everyone thought Lucan was done for, an unbelievable thing happened: the power that could shred ceramite inflicted no damage whatsoever on Lucan.

"How is this possible!" Scott stood frozen in place, dumbfounded. He, who had gained powerful psychic abilities through soul sacrifice, now seemed to see a monster with countless tentacles behind Lucan. That monster was devouring all the psychic energy he released.

And this form was precisely Lucan's projection in the Warp, the likeness of a Xel'Naga from StarCraft.

Scott felt his opponent devouring all surrounding psychic energy, yet the monster still seemed unsatisfied. It was eyeing his soul.

How could this be more demonic than a Daemon?

"My Warp projection allows me to ignore psychic spells?! More untouchable than an Untouchable?!" As the psychic energy was completely devoured, this one event directly earned Lucan one thousand Psy-crystals.

Wasn't this much faster than grinding mobs?!

"Monster… you are not human… What in the Warp are you!!"

Scott couldn't help but stumble backward. In his eyes, Lucan was now even more terrifying than a Chaos God.

Verre also watched all this in shock.

"My Lord! What in the blazes is happening?"

"The God-Emperor protects me!" Lucan declared.

Just as Scott tried to flee, the soldiers recovered.

The Marauders aimed their K-12 grenade launchers at Scott.

A full twenty quad-launchers (from 5 Marauders) unleashed a saturation barrage at Scott.

He was instantly engulfed in a storm of fire and explosions.

The deafening blasts continued until Lucan told them to stop.

As the smoke cleared, Scott's psychic shield had long since been shattered. His body was covered in horrific wounds; he was clearly not going to live much longer.

Critically injured, Scott could no longer utter a word, only coughing up large mouthfuls of blood.

Lucan walked towards Scott. Verre started to intervene, but he was astonished to find Lucan's speed was incredible; he didn't even have time to stop Lucan before he had approached Scott.

Unbeknownst to others, as more and more Warp energy was purified, Lucan's physical attributes were also improving simultaneously.

It wasn't just Scott who had sensed the hunger of Lucan's Warp projection; as the master of the projection, this feeling was even more pronounced for Lucan. He leaned down beside Scott.

As he drew near Scott, the soul already corrupted by the Ruinous Powers became sustenance for Lucan's projection.

As this evil soul was devoured, a large number of Scott's memories also appeared in Lucan's mind.

(End of Chapter)