Chapter 52: Big Demon
Rex plucked a leaf from the ground and examined it closely. Gazing at the massive trees surrounding the temple, he confirmed they had been growing for at least two hundred years. Company Commander Skol, satisfied with this verification, concluded that the temple's authenticity was established.
Omega regarded the scene without particular interest. As he prepared to advance, a sudden flash of light stung his eyes.
He stopped mid-stride and looked upward. The gleam of white marble caught the sunlight brilliantly, both from the temple's structure and the ground itself.
Examining the beautiful white marble blocks composing the ruined temple, Omega blinked. His eyes took on sudden depth and profound awareness.
Omega strode past without pausing. Skol, having spent considerable time in Omega's presence, sensed the Primarch had discovered something significant. He remained silent but approached Rex, the apothecary, and whispered urgently.
"Is something wrong?"
"How would I know? Your experience far surpasses ours. Even our mentor acknowledges his inferiority. Better to assume caution warranted!" Rex studied the surrounding marble, finding it entirely ordinary, utterly unaware of what Omega had perceived.
The group, ignorant of Omega's discovery, followed him into the temple on foot. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the gaps like holy radiance, dust particles drifting like golden powder through the light.
Inside the temple's main hall, a pure white jade cross-sword thrust upward from a sacred stone platform. It gleamed with holy luminescence in the sunlight. Despite centuries of abandonment, the blade showed no decay whatsoever.
Everyone present felt their hearts cleansed by its beauty and sanctity. It was undeniably sacred.
As Omega stepped forward, Company Commander Skol called out urgently from behind.
"Be careful, My Lord! A powerful, mysterious energy field surrounds the Holy Sword. Legend states that only the chosen ones can approach it!"
"What manner of energy field?" Omega asked with a smile as he continued forward. An energy shield materialized behind him.
Rex thought to himself, "Interesting." Company Commander Skol shook his head.
"I cannot say. It differs from the shields on power armor; it must employ mysterious technology from this planet's ancient era."
Omega repeated the name several times without comprehension, then stepped directly into the holy sword's energy field.
Skol and the others froze in shock, never expecting the Primarch to be the chosen one, the destined king of this world.
They had attempted an approach and failed. When Rex approached out of curiosity, the energy field repelled him immediately. His mechanical arm even registered numbness from the contact.
In the sacred temple ruins, Rex and the others watched in silence as Omega walked toward the Holy Sword. They anticipated the sacred moment when their Primarch would claim it.
All present observed as Omega slowly raised his right hand.
As his massive hand reached out as if to grasp the holy sword, Skol watched with wide eyes, his heart brimming with anticipation, unwilling to miss a single instant.
Clang!
Suddenly, the Primarch's unimaginable speed caught Skol, Rex, and the others completely off guard. A metallic strike echoed through the ruins.
Upon closer inspection, they saw Omega wielding a power sword wreathed in energy, slashing at the holy sword with fury.
This stark reversal shocked everyone present. Skol, momentarily stunned, then exclaimed in astonishment upon discovering the holy sword remained unbroken.
"The Holy Sword is real! Truly wonderful!"
"No," Omega's serious voice cut through the moment, stripped of all warmth. "This sword is a trap."
Those present felt the weight of his pronouncement settle like cold stone. Primarchs were typically measured and thoughtful, but when they spoke with such finality, resistance became not merely disobedience but heresy.
Upon hearing the declaration of deception, dozens of Astartes warriors immediately raised their explosive pistols, eyes sweeping the surroundings for threats.
Skol drew his power sword. Rex elevated all four mechanical tentacles, prepared to discharge weapons at any emerging enemy.
No enemies materialized. All present witnessed only Omega's power sword striking the holy sword repeatedly at phantasmal speed.
Strike after strike landed in rapid succession, hundreds of times within moments, thousands of times within minutes.
Yet the blade remained unbroken despite the Primarch's relentless assault. Commander Skol grew increasingly bewildered, struggling to understand why Omega had determined the sword false. Each strike should have shattered it. Yet it endured.
Less than a minute later, a sharp cracking sound pierced the air. Rex observed a crack form along the length of the holy sword.
As the fracture appeared, the atmosphere within the sacred temple abruptly turned sinister.
Sunlight gradually dimmed and vanished. Evil dark clouds began gathering across the previously clear sky, obscuring the entire island in shadow.
The entire island plunged into darkness. An eerie, malevolent atmosphere completely enveloped what had once been sacred ground.
Ancient trees swayed as if possessed by an animate will. Evil wind whistled through the temple ruins, rendering them nightmarish. Within the mysterious energy shield, the sword cleaved by the Primarch now gleamed with black, jewel-like, corrupting light.
Staring at the evil radiance emanating from within the energy field, enveloped by its malevolent presence, Company Commander Skol roared in fury.
"Demons! You have deceived me!"
Suddenly, an extremely evil whisper penetrated Skol's consciousness, driving directly into his soul with surgical precision. The daemon was tempting the company commander.
Skol felt deep resentment welling within him, carefully cultivated by forces beyond his comprehension. He recalled how Omega had shown him care and concern, yet remained unknown despite his extraordinary achievements.
He felt profoundly resentful that Omega addressed other Primarchs as "brothers," and the shame of never reaching that status burned like acid in his chest.
The more virtuous and sacred Omega had appeared to his heart, the more furious and fearful Skol became upon discovering the deception.
He feared he had harmed the sacred Primarch with his own hands, a consequence he could never forgive himself for, even in death. Overwhelmed by self-reproach and guilt, Skol listened to the daemon's whispers in his rage, gradually losing control.
In his descent into madness and loss of consciousness, Skol shocked his subordinates by raising his power sword. The blade's tip pointed directly at Omega, whose back remained turned to them.
Enticing visions assaulted Skol's mind, visions he could not comprehend. The scene before him twisted into a giant demon, grinning wickedly and silently mocking him. Provoked beyond reason, Skol became consumed by uncontrollable killing intent.
The other Astartes were shocked by this sudden transformation. The company commander was about to strike the Primarch. The apothecary Rex exclaimed in alarm.
"Company Commander Skol, what afflicts you? Something is profoundly wrong!"
"Lower your sword. Do you comprehend whom you face?"
"Demon!" Skol roared as he charged toward the Primarch, whose back remained exposed. He charged toward the enormous demon his corrupted senses perceived.
At that moment, several beams of ion light flashed through the air and struck Skol's body with a thunderous bang.
As the impact reverberated through him, several Astartes leaped forward from behind and tackled him to the ground.
Boom!
Upon landing, they gasped in shock. Skol's upper body remained unharmed, and he had entered the Holy Sword's energy shield. The company commander shouted about killing the demon while the Astartes atop him cried out in distress, attempting to wake him from his possession.
As Rex observed this horrifying turn of events, he noted that the shield did not repel Company Commander Skol. Understanding flooded through him.
"A daemon possesses him. This is a trap!"
Click!
At that precise moment, a crisp cracking sound rang out. Amid the evil and darkness, Omega was seen cleaving the beautiful, pure holy sword in two. From the fractured blade, a strange and evil black cloud surged forth.
The Holy Sword's energy shield trembled and shattered, dispersing energy waves that struck the Space Marines and Rex with considerable force.
Company Commander Skol regained his senses at this moment. The surrounding ruins and temple structures were smashed to fragments in mid-air with a tremendous crash beneath the energy impact. Ancient trees and withered vines were torn from the ground and cast aside.
As smoke and dust rose, the demonic black cloud emanating from the broken sword gradually solidified into form.
A colossal daemon materialized, ten meters in height, bearing bull horns and a tail. Its entire body was encased in black and gold armor resembling advanced alloy. Massive wings extended from its back, and it gripped a giant greatsword wreathed in swirling dark energy.
The towering daemon fixed its gaze upon Omega, roaring with a muffled, resonant voice that vibrated through bone and armor alike.
"You damned bastard! Why did you not simply claim the Holy Sword? Did you not desire kingship of this starry realm?"
Rex and the others looked on in astonishment. Omega, gripping his sword, smiled and spoke with the casual certainty of absolute knowing.
"King of the Stars? Whether you or that broken sword, I have never considered myself so weak. A creature such as you could not consume even a single sun."
"I...!" The Great Daemon, grasping its terrifying greatsword, wanted to boast that it could achieve such a feat. But the words caught in its throat, unable to emerge. For the first time, doubt flickered behind those ancient, burning eyes.
[End of Chapter]
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