Chapter 53: The Curious Zalewski

Within the opulent halls of the palace, Nimrod extended his open palm toward Maria Kurnikova, his voice resonant with authority.

"Your performance has been exemplary. This is the power I bestow upon you."

Maria, with reverence, took the violet potion from his massive hand. Without a moment's hesitation, she tilted her head back and consumed it in a single draught.

She and her fellow maidens had been groomed as assassins from youth, indoctrinated with absolute loyalty to their clan.

When Yelena offered them to Nimrod, their allegiance shifted irrevocably to the towering giant.

Having witnessed the godlike martial prowess of the gene-forged Primarch time and again, Maria had wholly surrendered her devotion to Nimrod.

After half a standard hour, under Nimrod's guidance, the "Assassin" mastered the art of meditation, harnessing and restraining her newfound powers.

Maria knelt on one knee, her hand pressed to her chest in a gesture of fealty.

"My eternal gratitude for your gracious gift, my lord. I swear to wield the power you have granted to bring death to your enemies."

Nimrod inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I have a task for you now, one that will also serve as a trial for Tesvisna and Dementieva."

The abilities and potential of the other two maidens paled in comparison to Maria's. Nimrod would judge their worthiness to become Beyonders based on their performance.

"Speak your command, my lord."

Nimrod's gaze grew profound, piercing through the palace's glass to the world beyond, his tone deep and enigmatic.

"You are to infiltrate the hives, assassinating key figures. As before, you will select your targets according to the circumstances. This time, I expect even more distinguished results."

"As you decree, I shall offer you the heads of false kings."

Maria grasped Nimrod's intent, and the "Assassin" vowed her pledge.

Nimrod withdrew his gaze, watching Maria depart. The greater the assassins' triumphs, the smoother his path to unification would be, preserving Vostonia's strength more wholly for the new era.

He promptly dispatched a message to Jorginho, ordering him to muster the forces.

Scouring the palace, Nimrod found that Kapustka's treasury—the grandest in Vostonia's largest hive—did not disappoint.

He uncovered twenty-nine varieties of potion ingredients, totaling fifty-four items.

Beyond assembling another "Warrior" potion, he discovered ten crown-pegasus horns among the materials Kapustka had used for longevity elixirs.

These horn-like structures, resembling regal crowns, were prime components for longevity potions and the primary ingredient for the Sequence 9 "Apothecary" of the "Moon" pathway.

Nimrod transported all the potion ingredients to the "Nation of Disorder" before returning to the material realm.

Emerging from the spire, he was met by Jorginho, who awaited his arrival.

Having undertaken an intensive study of Vostonian Low Gothic aboard the voidship, Jorginho now spoke and understood fluently, with partial proficiency in reading and writing.

"My king, I have reorganized the scattered remnants of the king's private army and the garrison forces. After screening and consolidation, we number one thousand five hundred and three."

"Henceforth, you are the commander of Vostonia's Sixth Regiment. Assemble your forces and march with me to the Kemerovo Hive."

"As you command."

Jorginho responded with fervent excitement. In a short span, he had risen from a mere voidguard to platoon leader, and now to regimental commander.

Though his regiment remained a thousand short of full strength, time would remedy that.

Nimrod then issued orders to Wojciech Belik, standing behind him. "Contact Thierry. Instruct him to recruit in Lukpo, with no limit on numbers."

The "Reader" promptly complied, retrieving his communicator to reach the commander of Vostonia's Second Regiment.

Concurrently, in the underhive of the Szczecin Hive.

Mikhailovsky, temporarily acting as second company commander, approached Bukayo, his brown eyes filled with awe as they met the regiment commander's gaze.

"Lord Commander, recruitment is complete. All personnel have been equipped with the superior weaponry you provided."

"Muster them at once. We march for the Naryanmar Hive, home of Altar Thirty-Three."

Bukayo had received word via Rollslev that Howard had quelled a mutant uprising and slain heretical cultists. Recognizing the onset of Vostonia's great upheaval, he saw an opportunity for the newly formed Third Regiment to earn glory.

Rollslev, overly cautious, sought only to hold Mazov and Szczecin after suppressing minor mutant revolts.

Bukayo would seize this chance, targeting Naryanmar, Vostonia's most remote and isolated hive.

Nimrod led the Sixth Regiment, arriving at the Kemerovo Hive under the cover of Night Kaiban. In the Uzhinsk Dome of the underhive, they encountered a routed noble army.

A brown-haired noble, clad in a crimson robe and sporting frameless gold-rimmed spectacles, stepped before the giant.

"I am Count Zalewski Viteska. Identify yourselves."

Rosicky advanced a step, introducing with authority.

"This is King Nimrod. Sage Kivior-2 has endorsed him as Vostonia's sole monarch. Pay homage to the king."

"King Nimrod, I, Zalewski Viteska, pledge my loyalty and shall serve as your faithful vassal."

"I accept your allegiance."

Nimrod's voice rumbled deeply, his obsidian eyes fixed on Zalewski. The noble before him stirred an odd sensation.

Through Warp Insight, he perceived Zalewski's emotions: initial terror of a survivor, followed by fitting shock and contemplation upon Rosicky's words.

Yet the Primarch's intuition whispered that Zalewski harbored some enigma.

[My instincts are unerring. This Zalewski conceals a secret.]

Nimrod noted this inwardly, betraying no outward sign, and led his forces onto a rail train bound for the upper spires.

The rail train, far slower than mag-lev systems, took four standard hours to reach the upper hive.

[Once Vostonia is unified, mag-lev trains must be installed across all hives and on future flagships to vastly enhance transport efficiency.]

As Nimrod's forces disembarked into the upper hive, they found it engulfed in madness.

On the streets, mutants brandished weapons, ransacking shops and slaughtering every hive-dweller in sight.

Their mouths, stuffed with blood-soaked food, erupted in maniacal laughter.

"Attack!"

Nimrod issued the command and led the charge.

Like a galloping cavalryman, he carved through the mutant throng, cutting them down in multiple sweeps before his forces could keep pace.

Observing Jorginho's competent command, Nimrod shifted his focus to the Viteska family's private army.

He noted their ballistic armor and finely crafted weaponry—lasguns, chainswords, and more.

Zalewski, despite his scholarly appearance with frameless spectacles, fought with astonishing ferocity.

Shield in his left arm, he barreled into the mutant horde.

Surrounded, he remained unruffled, allowing mutant weapons to strike his mastercrafted power armor while he methodically swung his power sword, felling foes.

Zalewski outpaced even the Sixth Regiment's advance, appearing more zealous and vigorous than Jorginho.

Nimrod's attention drifted from him, turning forward.

Amid a shrill avian cry, a figure cloaked in vibrant feathers, with a sharp beak, soared through the air.

Wishing all Legion members happiness, health, and prosperity for your families!

On the First Day, may you implant a second heart.

On the Second, may your bones and muscles be fortified.

On the Third, may your blood organs be remade.

On the Fourth, may you receive the Larraman's Organ.

On the Fifth, may you implant neural nodes.

On the Sixth, may you receive the Preomnor and gene-sensing nerves.

On the Seventh, may you gain the Multi-Lung (third lung).

On the Eighth, may you acquire the Occulobe and Lyman's Ear, granting keen sight and hearing.

On the Ninth, may you implant the Sus-an Membrane.

On the Tenth, may you receive the Melanochrome.

On the Eleventh, may you implant the Oolitic Kidney.

On the Twelfth, may you receive the Neuroglottis, savoring every flavor.

On the Thirteenth, may your sweat glands be enhanced and Betcher's Gland implanted.

On the Fourteenth, may you receive the Progenoid Glands and Black Carapace.

On the Fifteenth, may you cross the Rubicon, becoming Primaris.