Ulthran had to admit one fact: the sudden arrival of this Inquisitor was something even a seasoned Aeldari Farseer had failed to successfully prophesy at this precise, delicate moment.
Ulthran was naturally well aware of this Inquisitor's investigative activities within the underhive. However, the fact that she had managed to find this exact location was truly beyond the Seer's expectations.
What should be done now?
As an Aeldari Farseer, Ulthran began to calculate a counter-strategy. He knew very well that the person before him was a member of the Human Imperium's Inquisition. Based on his past experiences with that institution, they were fundamentally incapable of listening to anyone they had already designated as a heretic. And as a xenos—an alien in their eyes—he fell squarely into that category of the untrustworthy.
However, as a Farseer who had dealt with humans since ten thousand years ago, Ulthran still had methods. He simply needed a bit of time; he had to attempt to use words to lower her guard, win some patience, and appeal to her with emotion and reason...
But clearly, the old Seer had overthought things. He understood human behavior well, but he could not predict the actions of his own kinsman.
"Inquisitor, you may have misunderstood some—"
Before Ulthran could finish his sentence, a brilliant bolt of psychic lightning tore through the air, streaking past him and roaring toward the Inquisitor.
Ulthran: "..."
He was almost driven to a frustrated laugh. How did this fellow ever become a Farseer? Do the kinsmen on his Craftworld not possess brains?
As a battle-hardened Inquisitor, Sibylla's reaction was naturally lightning-fast. She merely flicked her hand, and the sudden lightning was neutralized directly by her own psychic power. Under Sibylla's control, the bolt instantly split into several forks, striking the ground around her. Rubble scattered from the impact, but the Inquisitor was not harmed in the slightest.
Fine. So that's how we're playing.
Having been attacked, even someone as rational as Sibylla lost all desire for dialogue. Setting aside the fact that she had come here specifically seeking the masters behind the Chaos cults—making the discovery of xenos enough to fill her with killing intent—she had actually felt a small urge to talk when she first recognized the Farseer who had appeared on Macragge to offer aid to the Lord Regent.
But after that psychic lightning, there was nothing left to say. In the eyes of any Imperial military commander, this was a pure provocation. The xenos didn't surrender; they even dared to return fire? You've got some nerve!
"Xenos, die!"
Without hesitation, Sibylla let out a furious cry. Pale blue psychic energy surged around her body, and long-suppressed power erupted like a breaking dam, roaring forward in a sweeping tide.
Yes. A tide. It was like a monstrous wall of water from a tsunami, crashing down toward the two Seers! Everything encountered along the path—such as the plasteel that formed the massive scale of the underhive—offered no more resistance than air. Everything was reduced to molecular-sized dust before this tide as easily as if it were sand!
What... is this?
Farseer Idranel was struck with terror. Such immense psychic power! The psychic strength of this Mon-keigh was completely beyond his calculations. There were no refined techniques or maneuvers; it was pure, overwhelming raw power! To squander psychic energy so violently, to maintain such an endless, terrifying output... for a psyker, even one not pursued by the Thirsty One like the Aeldari, this was an act equivalent to suicide. Is she not afraid of being seized by the Daemons lurking in the Warp?
The Farseer, snapping back to his senses, struggled desperately against the psychic suppression while having to divide his attention to deal with the suppressive fire from the Tempestus Scions flanking the Inquisitor. He was caught in a flustered scramble, beginning to lose his footing. He was forced to fight while retreating, his gaze frequently darting toward the old Seer Ulthran standing to the side, attempting to move the elder into a shielding position.
As long as this old Seer—who became a Craftworld Farseer ten thousand years ago and is far more senior than I—launches an attack, everything will be fine!
Ulthran finally gave a relieved smile. He saw through his fellow Farseer's intention at a glance. You want to use me as a shield? Keep dreaming!
"Since you enjoy playing with fire so much, enjoy being burned to your heart's content."
Ulthran's figure began to grow ethereal, wrapped in a pale blue psychic glow. Without even a backward glance, his body vanished into the air like a reflection sinking into the water.
Now it was Idranel's turn to curse inwardly. You dog! He just ran like that? Does he have no Aeldari pride left? To see a kinsman in danger and not help!
Watching this scene, Sibylla shook her head with disdain, mocking, "Truly shameless xenos. Every one of your unsightly displays manages to open my eyes."
"Stupid. When our race walked among the stars, your ancestors were still shivering in the trees! Mon-keigh." The Farseer bit back.
However, he could only gain ground in words. The Inquisitor, provoked by the xenos's attitude, exerted even more pressure. The surging psychic attacks meant Idranel could no longer maintain the composed demeanor he had shown before the High Lords. He was even forced to dodge and weave through the space while maintaining his psychic defenses, evading the curtain of fire being poured out, looking utterly wretched.
Only then did he realize why this Mon-keigh psyker stood at the very front of her formation. It wasn't just because of her absolute self-confidence, but because if any allies were in front of her, they would have been ground to dust alongside her enemies in short order under such an attack.
Idranel took a deep breath. It didn't matter. Even if his current plan had been torn to shreds by various accidents, he still... as an Aeldari Farseer who prided himself on excellence, he had a backup plan.
"Hmm?" Sibylla's gaze sharpened. Through her psyker's perception, she detected an invisible ripple spreading out from the Warp. The source... came from the xenos in front of her?! What was he trying to do?
Boom!
Before Sibylla could issue a warning, a violent explosion sounded. Beside them, in the layered, twisting tunnels of the underhive cast from plasteel, a flash of fire erupted, blowing open a massive breach. Dust and smoke filled the air.
Out of the smoke, crazed figures appeared.
"Heeheeheeheeheehee!" "Thought craves knowledge, knowledge thirsts for thought. Holy Tzeentch, be not confined!" "For the Changer of Ways!"
The Chaos cultists had revealed themselves. They wore tattered hive worker jumpsuits but were draped in strange blue bird feathers. Their skin was carved with nauseating, mutated sigils. These cultists, long since corrupted by Chaos, laughed maniacally, their eyes flashing with chaotic psychic light.
They roared, completely ignoring their bodies being charred by the incoming fire, surging toward Sibylla and her Tempestus Scions like a rising tide.