†They actually captured Zerg and brought them to Commorragh? These Dark Eldar have a death wish.†
The Overmind was genuinely exasperated. These insufferable Dark Eldar would grab anything!
†Who do they think they are? How do they compare to Narud?†
Narud. Servant of Amon, the dark Xel'naga. Creator of the hybrids. Like the Dark Eldar, he delighted in bio-modification. And he was equally arrogant.
†Still, Commorragh is truly immense.†
The Overmind gauged the distance between Nydusara and the captive Drone. Roughly half a solar system.
Not an exaggeration. Commorragh was that vast. And this was only a fraction of it.
Though termed a "city," Commorragh was more an agglomeration of countless satellite realms, interconnected by infinite portals and secret paths.
The entire Webway was like a great artery, studded with innumerable distant nodes. Within this labyrinthine space, these nodes could be adjacent—a single step away.
It was said this city's population exceeded that of the entire galactic Imperium.
Yes. That's exactly how GW described Commorragh.
In Commorragh, you'd frequently hear these terms: Kabal, Wych, Haemonculus. Kabals were most numerous. Essentially, any Dark Eldar in black armor was a Kabalite.
But there were many Kabals. Not all belonged to the same one.
†I hope Nydusara survives.†
The Swarm wasn't ready to assault Commorragh. Too many Dark Eldar. Too much obscure xeno-tech.
Attacking Commorragh now would result in unsustainable casualties.
But if Commorragh continued provoking the Overmind, he wouldn't hesitate to give it the same treatment as the Webway beneath the Imperial Palace. Daemon plagues for Terra. Zerg plagues for Commorragh.
As for now… macro first. Two planets and you want to challenge Commorragh? Ever seen someone like Jake Paul challenge a real fighter? It won't end well for you...
——————————————
Back to Nydusara. Along the Drone's escape route, she had seeded numerous Banelings, ambushing pursuing arena wardens.
They encountered many Dark Eldar along the way. Most didn't intervene. Some—female Dark Eldar in skintight, alluring attire—actually intercepted the pursuing wardens.
"Look at you, so pathetic. A few 'beasts' have you this disheveled?"
These Dark Eldar females bore mocking smiles. Taunting the arena guards.
These were Wyches. Almost exclusively female. They eschewed armor for various form-fitting, revealing bodysuits. Exceedingly provocative.
Do not be deceived by their beauty. They were far more vicious and formidable than Kabalite warriors.
"Silence! Those 'beasts' you mock have already cost us several personnel. See our armor? Those perforations are from their acid!"
"Need assistance?" The Wych's tone was pure derision.
"NO!"
The Dark Eldar continued tracking the Zerg. The Wyches had delayed them another thirty seconds.
But they were closing in. Until the trail vanished before a Webway Gate large enough to accommodate the Drone.
"What?!"
The wardens meticulously examined the vicinity. No trace omitted.
Yet the evidence indicated the "beasts" had entered the Webway Gate.
"Impossible! Those 'beasts' couldn't possibly activate a Webway Gate!"
They hastily activated the gate. Through obscure operations, they determined its last destination: another Webway Gate in Commorragh.
"HOW did they open it?!"
"This is impossible! Those 'beasts' opened a Webway Gate!"
"Someone must be aiding them."
"This is no mere beast escape. This is a conspiracy—another Archon scheming against our master!!!"
Conspiracy and betrayal. Commorragh's leitmotif. Dark Eldar backstabbed each other constantly.
Still, pursuit continued.
"I'll see who dares scheme against our master. Move out!"
The Webway Gate reopened. The arena wardens stepped through. The vista was nearly identical: the same spire-studded cityscape.
Yet they were now half a solar system from their origin.
Emerging from the gate, they witnessed Dark Eldar hunting Zerglings in the distance. Nydusara's fortune had not held. After the Drone reached her nearby gate, it came under attack.
"CEASE! Those are NOT your prey!!!"
The wardens' frantic shouts carried desperation.
The moment the Dark Eldar paused, the Drone seized the opportunity to scurry into a nearby conduit. Vanished from the wardens' sight.
Several Zerglings held the conduit entrance, buying time.
"DAMN IT! Do their legs exist only for running?!!"
The wardens ground their teeth in fury. They readied net-casters, preparing to recapture these Zerglings.
Zerglings charged. As before, Dark Eldar physiology was beyond Zergling capability. They were swiftly re-captured.
"I HATE crawling through conduits!"
The wardens entered. Abruptly, their keen senses registered faint tremors beneath their feet. Subterranean spines erupted.
"What?!"
One warden, a fraction too slow, was impaled. The others evaded.
"They dare COUNTER-ATTACK?!"
Blades drawn. Spines severed. The wardens' fury was incandescent.
"By the Supreme Overlord of Commorragh, I swear—these 'beasts' and I are NOT FINISHED!!!"
They pressed deeper into the conduit. Determined to slay or recapture. They had just forfeited their final chance at survival.
Darkness within. Yet Eldar eyes pierced the gloom. Viscous creep already lined the conduit. The wardens advanced cautiously.
Then—the space opened. Before them: a refuse pit. Heaped with tortured human corpses, metallic wreckage, chemical waste.
Occasional fresh corpses tumbled from above.
To others: hell.
To Zerg: paradise.
The Drone had pupated. Within its chrysalis, transformation to Hatchery commenced. This refuse pit would supply biomass.
The wardens' gaze swept the pit's periphery. What they saw made even Dark Eldar scalps prickle.
Eggs. Countless eggs. Meticulously arrayed.
"Kaine's mercy. They're spawning. Reproducing. In COMMORRAGH?!"
Such audacity. Such horror.
"Return! Notify the local Archon. Immediate action required. These beasts must be exterminated!"
Too late.
A potent psychic force sealed the conduit behind them. Nydusara emerged from shadow. Her massive frame radiated authority. She issued her command:
"Swarm. TEAR THEM APART!!!"
Countless Zerglings surged forth.
That scene was the wardens' final memory.