Chapter 24 Trials of the Gods
Among the Ruinous Powers, Nurgle is the oldest.
His nature differs profoundly from that of the others.
Tzeentch schemes.
Khorne exults in slaughter.
Slaanesh—yet unborn—will hunger for sensation.
Even the Dark Prince of Ruination covets dominion.
But Nurgle loves.
He loves every living thing with equal, suffocating affection.
From galaxy-spanning civilizations…
to the smallest bacterium dividing in stagnant water…
all are his children.
All are cherished.
And any who wish to enter the embrace of the Plague Father are welcomed.
If they spread his "gifts," he smiles upon them all the more.
So why had Nurgle drawn Yuki into the Warp?
Did he desire her?
Not exactly.
Yuki valued life — but selectively. She protected humanity. She defended the Imperium. Toward its enemies, she offered annihilation without hesitation.
Nurgle's interest was simpler.
He had chosen a child for the future. One he found delightful. But children should not grow lonely.
His other offspring were… affectionate in their own way.
Still, a sibling would be nice.
Yuki would make a wonderful elder sister.
A loving father provides for his children.
"Praise the loving father."
"I'll praise your mother's skull!"
Yuki kicked a cluster of giggling plague-spirits into bursting clouds of pus and rot.
If one awoke in a cosmic latrine surrounded by laughing filth-imps, one might choose harsher language.
She knew the Emperor was delayed.
She knew this was deliberate.
"Tzeentch, you snake."
Tzeentch: This one was not mine.
Yuki fought her way through the Garden of Nurgle.
Anything that moved, she tore apart.
She had no weapons.
Only her hands.
She knew the creatures could not truly die — but destruction denied them proximity.
Denied them whispers.
Denied them touch.
The Garden pressed inward with suffocating warmth and rot.
The air itself seemed alive.
Time lost meaning.
The stench thickened.
Something gnawed at her senses.
Her movements slowed.
Her thoughts blurred.
She looked down.
A mouth had opened in her palm.
Its yellowed teeth clicked hungrily.
Its tongue licked the air.
"…hands aren't supposed to have mouths."
She blinked.
No.
Of course they did.
Hands had always had mouths.
The world softened.
The green sky faded into a gentle blue.
Filth became clear water.
Rot became flowers.
Small animals played in the grass.
Warm sunlight bathed her skin.
It was peaceful.
Safe.
Beautiful.
"Stay," whispered a voice beside her ear.
Gentle.
Kind.
Neither male nor female.
Like an elder comforting a tired child.
"I… why would I stay?"
"There is no reason to suffer. Remain with your loving father. Rest forever."
A small dog approached and looked up at her.
"Praise the loving father."
Yuki picked it up.
"Praise…"
She paused.
"…praise your grandmother's legs."
She crushed the creature in her grip.
The illusion shattered.
She stood upon an immense, swollen hand.
Below it bubbled a colossal cauldron.
Before her loomed a vast, bloated figure of decay and impossible generosity.
Yuki pointed at it and grinned coldly.
"So the Eternal Dung Spirit finally shows himself."
Nurgle watched in patient silence.
Yuki understood:
He would not force.
He would not rage.
He would wait.
So she chose the only weapon that could not be smothered:
Fury.
"You preach love? I'll remain angry forever!"
"You disgusting old heap of rot! If you enjoy wallowing in filth, stay there! Stop trying to drag everyone else into your septic paradise!"
"You call this love? This is just rot pretending to be kindness!"
The Garden trembled.
Plague-spirits wailed.
The massive hand shifted.
"Oh? Angry?" Yuki sneered. "Going to toss me in the soup?"
Nurgle sighed — a sound like collapsing forests and settling graves.
Then he flicked his fingers.
Yuki vanished from the Garden.
She landed in nothingness.
"…that's it?"
Then a scarlet whirlwind engulfed her.
Yuki: "…are you serious?"
Khorne: A fine gift.
Khorne had been watching.
He had admired her fury.
Her refusal.
Her slaughter.
Even tainted with Nurgle's stink, the core remained unchanged.
Perfect.
Yuki opened her eyes.
She lay in a colossal arena beneath a blood-red sky.
Scorching winds drove yellow sand across the stone.
She stood alone.
She tested the walls.
Unyielding.
She spread her wings.
Psyker power failed.
Flight failed.
Above, an unseen barrier sealed the sky.
Escape was impossible.
With a thunderous impact, a massive axe slammed into the arena floor.
It was sized for her grip.
Balanced.
Waiting.
The iron gates groaned open.
Lesser daemons poured forth.
Yuki ignored the weapon.
She crushed them with her bare hands.
Bone broke.
Flesh burst.
Blood soaked the sand.
Wave after wave followed.
Stronger.
More numerous.
Still she fought without the axe.
Her armor cracked.
Wounds multiplied.
Breathing grew ragged.
Time lost meaning again.
Then came the next wave—
towering, horned brutes like living engines of slaughter.
They struck like charging war-beasts.
She smashed one aside.
Another slammed into her.
She staggered.
Blood filled her mouth.
She fell beside the axe.
"…if I don't use it now, I die."
She seized it.
The first swing removed a daemon's head.
Warmth surged into her body.
Pain faded.
Strength returned.
Then increased.
She fought.
And fought.
And fought.
Each kill fed her power.
Her laughter rose over the arena.
Joyous.
Savage.
Radiant.
Khorne watched with approval.
Yes.
Yes.
This was the path.
At last, the gates did not reopen.
A voice like grinding iron thundered:
"Offer blood to the Blood God.
Embrace endless war.
Receive boundless power."
Yuki spat.
"I'll offer your mother."
"…oh right. You don't have one."
Khorne: ?
"Your corruption techniques are worse than plague-imps! You're just a dog-headed brute screaming at the sky and calling it strategy!"
She pointed upward.
"You bully me because my father isn't here. Face him in the real world if you dare. He'll break all three of your legs. Remember — three."
Khorne's rage ignited like a supernova.
He no longer wanted her.
He wanted her destroyed.
Reality trembled.
A killing blow gathered—
Then the crimson sky cracked.
A fissure of cold blue light tore across the arena.
Yuki stared upward.
"…what now?"
"Are you all running a dungeon instance?"