The Keeper of Secrets of Slaanesh shrieked its last. The creature's body, supremely beautiful yet twisted, collapsed under Scorchwind's blade.
His Ultramarine brought the fully charged chainsword down in a devastating slash.
The burning blade cleaved diagonally from the daemon's rune covered shoulder, nearly cutting its body in half. A tentacle covered in suckers tried to coil upward but was severed clean through.
Unholy purple light gushed from the wound. The Keeper of Secrets hit the ground, its body breaking apart and fading away.
When it died, the art altar behind it began to crumble. The structure had been built from screaming sculptures and elaborate decorations. Now it seemed to lose its support.
Glass shattering sounds echoed as the runes on its ornate surface dimmed and cracked. Finally, a purple vortex collapsed inward, turning the altar into scattered stones that had lost their glow.
[Primary Objective: Destroy the Art Altar - Complete!]
[Campaign Victory!]
The victory notification appeared. Before Scorchwind could catch his breath, his screen filled with that familiar crimson panel, violent and overwhelming.
Burning chains trembled along the border as if excited. Dripping blood became thicker. The brass skull emblem in the upper left corner blazed with blood red light.
[Slaughter! Sustained across eight battlefields!]
[Blood! Soaked through eight campaigns!]
[Skulls! Piled eight hundred and eighty eight!]
[Mortal... your strength and skill have brought... satisfaction to the existence upon the Brass Throne!]
The text pounded like war drums, hammering at Scorchwind's heart.
[The Eightfold Path... complete!]
At the center of the panel, a title line burned like flame:
[The Lord of Skulls... for your "performance," has slightly... nodded His approving head.]
[He has taken... a measure of interest in you, this mortal "King of Gladiators."]
Scorchwind's heart raced.
He could almost smell iron, blood, and gunsmoke emanating from the text. In the livestream chat, comments flooded in, a boiling red sea of text:
"Congrats, Scorchwind!"
"Eightfold Path achieved!"
"Blood God rules!"
[Come!]
The text suddenly became urgent, like a battle horn.
[Accept His blessing!]
[Enjoy this eternal, exhilarating combat!]
[To that supreme Brass Throne, dedicate your battle spirit, your fury, your everything!]
[Let the wars and destruction of the entire galaxy chant the holy name of the great Blood God, Khorne!]
Scorchwind felt hot blood rush to his head. His hands even felt slightly warm. He had played countless games, but this was different.
Resonating with the ultimate evil from the game's lore, gaining its recognition, he'd never felt anything like it.
[The Lord of Skulls is never stingy with His warriors!]
[He grants this "blessing"... it is both reward for you and your supreme glory!]
[——Pact of Slaughter——]
A contract appeared on the crimson panel. It was composed of burning war runes and chain engravings. The terms were clear and aggressive:
Service & Path: Sign the contract and you'll formally serve the Lord of Eternal War, the Gladiator and Brass King, the Lord of Skulls, Khorne. You'll embark on a path of honoring the deity through combat, destruction, and blood.
New Class: Beyond the four basic classes, you'll unlock an entirely new option exclusive to Khorne's faithful, Berserker. This class sacrifices some defense and rationality for ultimate melee damage, frenzied attack speed, damage reduction, and unique "Blood Rage" abilities.
Price of Loyalty: Sign this and you can never play as the Imperium again. This includes Space Marines, the Imperial Guard, and tech priests. Your choices will be limited to Chaos forces, Traitor Guard, Chaos Daemons, Chaos Warbands, and followers of Chaos Undivided, plus some neutral or alien factions.
Generous Blessings: The Blood God rewards His warriors well. When you win battles for Him and offer skulls, especially from high value targets, He'll grant you rewards: unique armor and ornaments in Khorne's style, devastating melee weapons, titles that showcase your achievements, and perhaps special traits that directly boost your character's stats.
Scorchwind's excitement cooled as he read the terms carefully. The Berserker class tempted him enormously.
That pure, frenzied combat style made his hands itch just thinking about it. The Blood God's generosity sounded incredible.
But never playing Imperial factions again?
He hesitated. Imperial factions, especially the Space Marines, that combination of discipline, glory, and superhuman power, he loved that too.
The thrill of commanding Leman Russ tanks. The tragic human wave tactics of the Imperial Guard.
The steel flood of tech priest armies. These had all given him excellent experiences. Should he say goodbye to all of this forever for a Berserker class and Khorne's blessings?
Was it worth it?
The livestream chat had already split into two camps:
Pro signing faction:
"Sign it, Scorchwind! Berserker sounds fierce!"
"Blood God's blessing! You'll never regret it!"
"The Imperium is boring. Chaos is way more violent!"
"Scorchwind's style is perfect for Khorne! Just charge!"
"Unique class! First Berserker on the entire server! That's legendary status!"
Anti signing faction:
"Don't do it! The Imperium is so cool! Space Marines are awesome!"
"Permanent restrictions hurt too much. What if new Imperial factions come out later?"
"Berserker's probably just a glass cannon. High attack, low defense. Might not even be good."
"Give up half the game content for one class? Think it through!"
"What if the other Chaos gods have good classes too? Wait and see!"
Scorchwind watched the comments scroll by. His heart was torn. He looked at the Pact of Slaughter again. At the Berserker description. At the promise of the Blood God's blessing. It exuded a fatal temptation, like the richest liquor.
He recalled completing the Eightfold Path. Those moments when he'd burst forth with greater combat power in desperate fights. Severing the heads of powerful enemies. That rush was exactly the "battle spirit" the Blood God appreciated.
Imperial factions were good. But Khorne's path seemed to match what he truly wanted, pure power and the art of combat. And as the first player to complete such a legendary quest, the first to walk a champion's path, that uniqueness appealed to him just as much.
"Fuck it," Scorchwind muttered, his gaze sharpening. "I'm doing it. Who cares about Imperial factions? Other Chaos god classes might come out later anyway. This Berserker, I'm claiming it!"
He didn't hesitate any longer. He moved his hand to the end of the contract, where a sigil made of burning blood waited. It required the player to press down with a virtual handprint.
He took a deep breath.
He pressed down hard.
[Pact... sealed!]
[Blood as witness! Skulls as proof!]
[Welcome to... the eternal crusade!]
[Combat and destruction... are with you!]
Blinding blood red light consumed his character selection interface. A scorching sensation of power seemed to transmit through the screen.
When he could see clearly again, the character class selection menu had changed. Beyond the conventional four options, there was a new, fierce icon, crossed double axes and a bleeding skull.
[Berserker (Khorne)]
At the same time, a system notification sounded. The mailbox icon flashed with red light.
He opened it.
[Sender: Brass Colosseum]
[Attachment: Title - "Khorne's Eternal Champion"]
[Description: As the first player in this game to forge a deep pact with the Lord of Skulls and complete the "Eightfold Path" trial, you have earned this unique permanent title. This title will demonstrate your absolute loyalty to the Blood God and outstanding battle achievements, and may bring you special treatment in the Brass Citadel.]
Scorchwind looked at the unique title radiating a scent of blood. He grinned.
He knew his Battlefield: Warhammer 40K journey had changed completely. From this moment on, he'd walk an entirely different path, Khorne's path, filled with iron and blood.
۞۞۞۞
~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones