Chapter 946 - 945: Valdor's Third Failure

Tizca's old city, Containment Zone B-25 of the Sons of Horus.

Hathor Maat walked in openly, yet no one saw his crimson armor.

He passed between rows of refugees, approaching two Sons of Horus.

He saw them holding a bronze, watch-like instrument. Runes flashed, projecting a crimson beam that swept over the refugees before them.

The refugees trembled, clutching their shoulders under the threat of the Sons of Horus' guns.

As the beam swept, the Sons of Horus on either side called out: "Sector D," "Sector F."

Hathor silently studied their actions and words, comparing them to his observations of the Tizcans. He concluded the Sons of Horus were classifying the refugees by psychic potential.

He saw a transport bay almost full of cowering refugees. Electricity crackled in his palm.

Only then did the Sons of Horus notice the "Psychological Invisibility" Hathor, right beside them.

Arcs of lightning shot from his palm, felling a dozen Sons of Horus. The crackling arcs tore their bodies apart.

Sons of Horus around the camp raised their weapons, firing bolt rounds at the suddenly appearing Thousand Son.

Diamond-hard shells struck civilians, turning their chests to pulp.

The Magister Templi of the Pavoni Cult raised his hand again. Torn intestines regrew. Flesh regenerated.

"Sorceror!" the Sons of Horus roared, firing a second volley.

A torrent of white-hot flame surged, consuming the barrage and the Sons of Horus.

Sul Kontep, staff raised, strode forward. Though he was a member of the 5th Fellowship, he was not from Uthizzar's Athanaean Cult but a Sanctum Instructor of the Pyrae Cult.

Though each Fellowship was led by a captain from its primary cult, it also contained members from the other four cults and a few from the secret orders.

Lightning arced. The sun blazed. All the Sons of Horus in the containment zone were dead.

The civilians, tears streaming, approached their saviors.

Hathor removed his helmet, smiling. A mental pulse shot into his mind.

"Hathor, the orbital transfer station's control tower has been destroyed."

"The soul-fires of Phosis T'Kar and Auramagma have gone out."

Hathor thought of the hot-tempered Magister Templi of the Raptora Cult, who always led from the front.

'He must have drawn on his Tutelary's power… I didn't see faith in my Lord in his mind... I didn't banish him… I went to Kalophis's Pyrae Pyramid…'

He quickly asked, mentally: "What of Kalophis?"

"He also fought Valdor. But I cannot confirm his status. He fell among the Sisters of Silence."

Hearing Uthizzar's reply, Hathor said, "Continue searching. I will go to the orbital transfer station."

He severed the mental link and said to Sul.

"We have cleared all the Sons of Horus containment zones in the old city."

"Your new task is to lead these people to the Pyramid of Photep."

"Gather any scattered battle-brothers, Auxilias, and civilians you encounter along the way, and lead them in retreat."

"As you command, my lord." Sul said.

"The warriors I brought number only nine hundred and fifty-two now. Leading civilians through the Wolves' rear, even with the teleportation gates, will be difficult."

Though they had used their numerical advantage to encircle and destroy the Sons of Horus, the 5th Fellowship had inevitably lost over two thousand warriors.

The teleportation gates, all located within large buildings, were being destroyed as the Wolves advanced.

Hathor looked at Sul. He was one of those the Black Emperor had mentioned. The others were Menkaura and Motep of the Corvidae Cult.

He had already summoned Motep, one of the Scarab Occult Terminators, to Axandria IV, withdrawing him from joint operations with the Ultramarines.

'I must ensure Sul survives. Then I will have at least secured the two my Lord mentioned.'

"The Shadows of Order and my Scarab Occult will accompany you." The Black Emperor's divine command forbade him from bringing the Shadows of Order to the Pyramid of Photep.

He would instead have them accompany Sul. Perhaps they could save more Thousand Sons for the Black Emperor.

Hathor's eyes were deep. "If you cannot return to the Pyramid of Photep, follow the Shadows of Order to the underground bunkers in the outposts outside the city."

The orbital bombardment had leveled the surface installations, but the underground bunkers remained. This was the path of survival the Black Emperor had shown them.

Sul was taken aback. The Scarab Occult Terminators were the Legion's elite. The Chief Librarian was sending them to accompany him.

"I will complete your task."

After parting with Sul, Hathor found Hethra Tormarak, Guardian of the Jackal Cult, who had been operating in another containment zone.

He ordered Tormarak to hand over the rescued civilians to the battle-brothers of the 5th Fellowship, then led the Osiron Dreadnoughts to the orbital transfer station.

Hathor passed through a series of activated stone gates, emerging near the transfer station from a storage center.

He said to Tormarak, walking behind him: "Spread out. Find Kalophis."

"As you command." Tormarak's voice was low.

Hathor ran. Though he wore Cataphractii-pattern Terminator armor, the significant physical enhancement he had gained as a "Hypnotist" meant his unaugmented speed already surpassed that of a Thousand Son in Cataphractii Armor.

Driven by urgency, he channeled bio-energy through his body. His supernatural speed far exceeded any Thousand Son's.

The wind rushed past. He ran towards the smoke.

Suddenly, his obsidian eyes caught a flash of silver.

Kalophis parried a sword thrust aimed at his throat, then swung his khopesh, striking the slender woman's shoulder blade.

He pulled. "Not so silent now?"

The Sister of Silence struggled against Kalophis's pull, but his strength overpowered her.

Kalophis roared, pulling her close, and slammed his fist into her skull.

Bang!

Her head burst like a watermelon, blood spraying over Kalophis.

Flames flickered on his armor, instantly growing into a ring of fire.

Aetheric flame spun. Blood and body were consumed to ash.

"Roar!"

Kalophis howled, regaining his aetheric power. A shiver of pleasure ran through him.

"Careful!"

The warning echoed in his mind. An image flashed before his eyes.

Constantin Valdor, in golden armor, lunging his spear at his back.

On either side, a dozen Sisters of Silence, leaning forward, their steps swift, closing in.

Through the image captured by the Wyvach, Kalophis saw a sliver of escape.

He rolled. A flash of gold shot past his eye. The flames around him died.

The Wyvach soared. He saw that the one who had warned him was Hathor.

Kalophis smiled bitterly. He had just broken through the Sisters' encirclement, but Valdor had caught up.

Without their psychic powers, neither of them could match Valdor.

As Kalophis thought, Hathor's eyes grew pale, his pupils vertical. Invisible waves surged forward.

The Sisters' swift advance faltered. Two ran wildly, eight spun in place, one froze, trembling.

Only the one advancing alongside Valdor was unaffected, lunging at Kalophis.

Hathor's eyes blazed gold, fixed on Valdor and the Sister.

Images of past missions flashed through Krole's mind, the Knight-Commander of the Sisters of Silence: Cleansing psykers, her blade severing child after child's head.

Ordering the placement of melta bombs, melting entire hives, along with the muties who had taken them.

Tears welled in Krole's eyes. She wept in silence.

An image flashed through Valdor's mind: Alpharius, holding a Custodes spear and a detonator, before a golden flier.

That was his first failure.

The second was, a searing light bursting into the laboratory, a dozen Custodes torn apart.

His master's great plan destroyed.

"I will not suffer a third failure." Valdor howled.

Hathor seized the dazed Kalophis. "Go."

Ignoring the stabbing pain in his temples, he channeled bio-energy into Kalophis. Their bodies grew light, moving at supernatural speed.

The two Wyvachs circled overhead, projecting the scene behind them into Hathor and Kalophis's minds.

Valdor was in hot pursuit. Behind him, the Sisters.

A crimson light flashed in Hathor's eyes.

"Invader, die!" Tormarak, one of the first recruits on Prospero, a Guardian, roared.

The Osiron Dreadnought raised its left arm. The ground beneath Valdor's right boot exploded.

Caught off guard, he stumbled. He thrust the Apollonian Spear into the collapsing chasm, using it to launch himself up.

Boom, boom, boom!

"Invader, die!" The Dreadnought raised its right arm, its twin-linked autocannon unleashing a hail of fire, consuming a Sister of Silence.

The Jackal's howl echoed.

Valdor ran, his eyes locked on Hathor and Kalophis.

Flames surged. Black lightning fell.

"I am your end!" He thrust the Apollonian Spear into the Dreadnought's chassis.

Boom!

A power fist, wreathed in lightning, struck the golden armor, gouging a fist-sized chunk, erasing one of the names engraved upon it.

Valdor kicked, toppling the Dreadnought.

A torrent of flame rushed towards him. Valdor thrust his spear.

Golden light parted the flame, striking his golden armor.

The ornate plate was blackened, but Valdor's eyes were only on the two fleeing figures.

Kalophis saw the Legion's heroes fall, one by one. Fire flickered in his eyes.

"We cannot run." A spear of flame formed in his hand. He turned, hurling it.

Hathor believed in the Black Emperor's prophecy of Prospero's destruction. He grabbed Kalophis's arm, channeling his newly restored spirituality.

"The Sisters and Custodes are closing in. If we delay, we'll be surrounded."

"We must return to the Sanctum. Reform the line. Don't let their sacrifice be in vain."

"Placate" made Kalophis stop struggling. Hathor pulled him towards the storage center.

Valdor swung his arm, thrusting the Apollonian Spear.

The golden tip met the white-hot spear.

Boom!

Valdor's body shuddered.

"Invader!" Tormarak's shattered form blazed. He had freed his soul from the Dreadnought.

His mechanical claw blazed, blazing like the sun.

"Die!"

His life-ending blow struck Valdor's chest plate.

Bang!

The golden armor dented. Four names were erased by the flames.

Valdor staggered back.

Tormarak swung his arm, his steel frame groaning. Aetheric flame flickered.

Valdor steadied himself, silently swinging his arm. The spear pierced the Osiron Dreadnought's remains.

"Guard-" Tormarak's voice was low. An image flashed in his mind: the Kyen Landing, where he, as a heavy weapons squad commander, had won victory.

The final battle of Lacticus, his last battle in life.

'Now it's truly over.'

Tormarak's body fell.

Valdor stepped past him, looking ahead. The two Magister Templis had vanished.

He gripped the Apollonian Spear. This was his third failure.

'No! I have not failed. I will kill every traitor.'

He strode towards the center of Tizca.

Suddenly, he stopped. 'With so many Sisters of Silence around me, how could Hathor Maat still use his sorcery?'