Chapter 66 — Descent Into the Abyss
The air had grown heavy the deeper they went. The light from the corrupted sky no longer reached them, swallowed by stone and shadow. Only the glow from the Gaius' armor cut through the dark, faint, golden and, steady.
Gaius led the way, warhammer across his shoulder, his steps deliberate and measured. Behind him, the two Primaris followed without a sound, their armor whispering with every motion.
The group's projections, Mindy, Tony, Diana, Saeko, and Naruto, floated a few meters behind him, translucent and quiet, visible only to Gaius himself.
The path ahead widened suddenly, opening into a massive crater. It stretched across the ground like an open wound, swallowing light and sound alike.
Mindy's eyes widened. "That doesn't look natural."
Diana tilted her head, studying the edges. "It's too clean. Like something burned its way out from underneath."
Gaius stopped near the rim, scanning the descent. The crater's floor was so deep that even the suit optics dimmed before reaching it. The two Primaris halted beside him, waiting wordlessly.
Mindy looked down and shivered, even though she wasn't physically there. "How far does that even go?"
Tony glanced at the Captain, remembering a moment the first time Gaius, visited his world. how Gaius had fallen hundreds of feet from the sky to to the concrete without hesitation. He exhaled through his nose. "If I had to guess… he's about to do something similar."
Diana frowned. "he's going to jump?"
Tony gave a small nod. "Seems so."
The two Primaris shared a glance, then without hesitation, leapt into the crater. They didn't fall freely; instead, they pressed their backs against the walls, sliding down as their armored boots scraped the stone, sending sparks scattering. Their descent was fast but controlled.
Then, Gaius stepped forward. Without a word, he dropped.
The golden armor caught the faint red glimmer of the dying sky for a second before disappearing into the dark. His back scraped the crater wall as he fell, steady, calm, as though gravity itself dared not pull him faster.
When the ground came into view, barely fifty meters below, he pushed away from the wall. He fell the rest of the way unassisted.
The impact came like thunder. The ground cracked beneath him, dust exploding outward in a shockwave that rolled across the crater. Moments later, two dull thuds followed, the Primaris landing beside him.
He rose immediately, unshaken, the warhammer resting easily across his shoulder. The two Primaris took formation beside him without a word. Together, they began walking forward.
From above, Naruto's eyes widened in awe. "Woahh! That was so cool!"
Mindy chuckled softly, shaking her head. "He really makes it badass, does he?"
Diana's gaze stayed fixed on the three armored figures below. "They're true soldiers. Every move looks… deliberate."
The group followed, descending in their own intangible way, until they reached the crater floor. The world down here was darker still. The faint light from above could no longer pierce this depth.
Even their projections dimmed, the outlines of their forms fading slightly as if the darkness itself pressed in.
Tony frowned. "We shouldn't even be able to see this clearly. The chat must be projecting light for us."
Saeko nodded. "If a normal person were here, they'd see nothing at all."
Gaius and the Primaris, however, saw clearly. Their helms adjusted automatically, switching to enhanced modes. Red outlines traced the walls, the air thick with floating dust and ash.
For minutes, there was nothing but silence. The faint sound of their boots echoed across the stone.
Then, something ahead.
A faint blue glow spread across the floor, small at first, then multiplying the further they walked.
As they drew closer, the shapes became clear, bodies.
Dozens of them.
Mindy slowed, her voice soft. "Are those… people?"
Tony activated Identification. A small blue panel appeared beside him.
[Daemon-Infused Corpse (Corrupted Human Host)]
Once an ordinary human, the body has been overtaken by the essence of the Warp. Flesh blackens and tears apart as bones twist into unnatural forms. When injured, the blood it spillsa are colored blue, the bloods glows bluish.
Saeko exhaled slowly. "So they were human once…"
Naruto looked away. "I don't Like this."
Tony's tone was quiet, thoughtful. "Is this the capablity of the chaos, that Gaius once said."
Gaius knelt beside one of the corpses, inspecting its chest. Deep circular wounds marked the flesh, bolter rounds, fired close. Another corpse nearby bore a clean vertical cut, the kind only a power sword could make.
He stood again. "These wounds… Astartes work. Bladeguard Veterans."
Diana looked at him. "Space Marines like you?"
as she knows the term Space Marines from getting information from chatting with the other members of the Group Chat, while waiting for Gaius second Broadcast.
He nodded. "Bladeguards."
He turned toward the ground. Among the blue ichor, faint glowing footprints led deeper into the abyss. They weren't alone, drag marks, heavy and rectangular, trailed beside them.
"Their tracks continue forward," Gaius said. "And the psyker containment with them."
He gave a gesture, and the two Primaris broke into a run. Gaius followed, his steps thundering softly through the cavern. The group's projections floated behind, their images flickering faintly as they moved deeper underground.
Elsewhere.
Captain Titus moved through the lower hall, his bolter drawn. The faint lights in the ceiling flickered, casting long shadows over the ancient corridor.
Behind him, three Bladeguard Veterans followed, each carrying the marks of battle, scratches along their armor, streaks of blue blood across their pauldrons.
Chained behind them rolled a massive adamantium sarcophagus, humming faintly with restrained energy.
"Stay close," Titus ordered. His voice was calm, clipped. "The destination should be ahead."
But before they could move further, the sound of heavy footfalls echoed from behind. Metal against stone, fast, steady, closing in.
"Contacts!" one of the Bladeguard shouted, raising his weapon.
They turned, aiming down the dark hall. Their visors adjusted instantly, switching to enhanced sight.
Out of the darkness came three figures, one clad in gold, two in blue.
Titus's eyes narrowed as he recognized the heraldry on their pauldrons. The Ultramarine sigil gleamed under the dim light.
He raised a hand, motioning his squad to hold fire. "Stand down. Identify yourself."
The golden figure slowed to a stop. His warhammer touched the floor with a low, metallic thud. When he spoke, his voice carried calm authority.
"By order of the Primarch of Ultramar, I was sent to retrieve you, Lieutenant Titus."
Titus blinked, lowering his weapon slightly. "Retrieve… me?"
Gaius nodded once. "You, and your men, if they yet live."
The Bladeguard exchanged quick glances. Titus studied the newcomer more closely. The armor wasn't ceramite. It shone too brightly, too pure, he knew it's auramite according to it's color, since gold can't be used as an armor as it is too soft.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I am Gaius Maximor Thassor."
The name carried weight. Even in the endless war of the Imperium, it was one whispered across the ranks, The Blade of the Primarch.
Titus exhaled slowly, the faintest smile tugging at his mouth. "Blade of the Primarch"
He slung his bolter to his side. "Then I welcome your arrival, Captain Gaius."
Gaius gave a curt nod. "You've endured well. But we still have work ahead. We finish this mission together."
The projections hovered a few meters away, watching the exchange.
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "He's Gaius objective right, right? He looks strong!"
Tony glanced toward him. "Try using Identification."
Naruto nodded and did so. A small panel appeared.
[Titus Demetrius (Veteran Ultramarine Lieutenant)]
A warrior forged in the fires of countless wars, Titus Demetrius has served the Imperium for over two centuries. His body bears the marks of duty, his mind tempered by discipline. Through endless battles, he has never faltered, never yielded to fear or corruption. His unwavering spirit stands as proof of the Emperor's divine design, a living embodiment of the creed that defines all Space Marines: They shall know no fear.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Two hundred years old!?"
Diana crossed her arms, impressed. "he is all old…" though not old enough like her but still it was impressive.
Tony read the last line and murmured, almost to himself, "They shall know no fear…"
He looked up at the massive soldiers in front of them, both squads standing shoulder to shoulder in the dim blue light. "I think I'm finally starting to understand what that means."
Mindy's gaze drifted to the chained object behind Titus, a massive, sealed metal capsule. Her curiosity got the better of her. She raised a hand, and the Identification panel flickered open.
[Psyker Containment Unit]
A reinforced adamantium capsule used to restrain sanctioned psykers. The null field suppresses warp activity and prevents daemonic intrusion. Inside lies an elderly psyker, blindfolded and sealed within layered stasis bindings. Faint psychic energy pulses from within.
Her eyes widened. "There's someone inside that thing… an elderly person."
Tony frowned. "A psyker? What's that supposed to be?" a new term that he just heard, since Gaius didn't mention it before so he has no information about it.
Saeko spoke quietly. "Probably someone who can use… whatever passes for magic here."
Diana nodded. "indeed, and from how dangerous this world are, it seem necessary to do this.." since magic existed in her world, she can imagine that, and how bad this world are, the use of magic might be more dangerous.
The Ultramarines didn't hear their talk. The projections remained invisible, silent observers.
Titus adjusted the chains, his gaze steady. "We have our objective. the destination lies ahead."
Gaius looked toward the the gate at the end of the tunnels ahead. "Then we move."
He lifted the warhammer and turned forward. The two squads began to advance together, gold and blue armor gleaming faintly against the dark and little light that came from the ceilings.
End of Chapter — "Descent Into the Abyss"
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