Alkahas Phall: Reinforcements Can't Be This Fast

The surface of Shana II in the Xana -Vesidax system.

The commander of the XIX Legion, the Lord of Shadows Alkahas Phall, wielded his giant axe with a thunderous roar, the violent Shriek even drowning out the explosions.

Alkahas charged fiercely at the Xenos slave army. The man, enslaved by the Neural Collar, still foolishly charged at him, but the terror in his eyes betrayed his fear.

He raised his Autogun, trying to inflict some damage, but the giant axe had already swung down, tearing the Ceramite machine apart without pause, followed by the head, the Neural Collar, and the torso, only stopping at the pelvis.

Blood, flesh, and bone fragments splattered across Alkahas's armor, and the mangled corpse lay on the ground like a slaughtered Grox.

Alkahas pulled his Chainaxe from among the mangled limbs and tore another charging enemy to shreds.

The metal bullets clattered against his Terminator armor before bouncing off.

The automatic sensor display on the Phall detected an enemy attack from the left.

Without hesitation, he charged into the crowd, violently crashing into them.

Armored fists smashed the skulls of human slaves, while the roaring Chainaxe tore at the second one, ripping it into a cloud of blood mist.

More bullets came flying, and the slaves desperately attacked Alkahas.

Alkahas, leading his fellow warriors, continued the slaughter without mercy.

They were all recruited from the savage and battle-skilled arid tribes of Terra's Asia, the Duststorm region, and each was the eldest son of Warrior.

Bombs, Chainsword, and Power Fist —they used every means to slaughter their enemies like livestock.

During the killing, Phall felt a surge of rage rising within him; he continued to slaughter, blood splattering, leaving no survivors.

Amidst the screams and the piercing sounds of blades hacking at flesh, his mind remained Silence.

Alkahas carried out the slaughter in silence until a voice broke the stillness.

"Lord of Shadows, they are merely tools; you shouldn't waste your energy on them."

Alkahas continued his actions, and as he swung his giant axe, tearing the three apart, a voice suddenly rang in his mind.

He didn't need to distinguish to know whose voice it was.

Balsa Kuturi, a think tank.

Within the Legion Library, only he could overcome his own unwavering will and let his voice resonate within his own soul.

As soon as Alkahas thought of this, black flames descended from the sky.

One slave after another was engulfed in flames, emitting Affliction cries.

Alkahas turned his head and looked at Bal, whose eyes were gleaming with golden light.

"You interrupted my killing spree; I hope your reasons are sufficient."

"Lord of Shadows, a void Fortress is approaching amidst the waves of the Warp."

"I also see more shadows creeping in; we are about to receive rescue."

"Balthasar, you've got it wrong," Alkahas said coldly.

Despite being one of the Balthasar's most outstanding Librarian, possessing powerful Psionic Energy that rival even Librarian of the "Shadow of Order" and the "Thousand Sons," and being particularly adept at precognition, he was certainly wrong this time.

"We will receive reinforcements, but not so soon; the nearest legion will take at least five months to arrive."

After speaking, Alkahas turned and charged forward.

"Leave no one alive," he said into the communicator.

At the same moment, in the void of the Xana Vesedicas system.

Santiago Bergkamp stared intently at the crystal ball, his eyes deep and unfocused.

The Astrologer gazed at the ripples spreading within the spinning crystal ball.

He rapidly marked runes on the tactical holographic screen while speaking into the Communicator:

"In the fourth asteroid belt, a gravitational anomaly will trigger tides in two hours and eighteen minutes, lasting for five hours and twenty-one minutes."

Asteroid number 186 was the least affected.

"You will arrive at the ambush point in two hours and launch an attack on the pursuing fleet precisely on time."

"As you command, my lord." Upon receiving the reply, Santiago immediately switched communication channels and continued issuing orders.

"Enemy ship group Second Company 13, number two, will arrive in near-Earth orbit around Xana IV in one hour and thirty-seven minutes."

"With gravity higher than other orbits, the enemy ship's speed will decrease by 29 percent."

"You will arrive at the rune marker location one hour and twenty-four minutes later and launch an attack."

Santiago issued a series of orders to the companies, while simultaneously drawing shimmering arcs on the holographic tactical map.

Fleet channel, communications silent.

"Steering 4-6-1, lean angle 5."

"Entering the asteroid belt, prepare the Aether Cannon."

The black warship then smashed through the dust blocking its path and disappeared from the telemetry equipment of the Rangdan warship.

The audio signal on Rangdan's communication channel was somewhat noisy.

"Damn it, these black warships are too cunning. They don't engage us head-on. After launching their attack, they hide in places like asteroids, using celestial bodies to hinder our attack."

"Their communications were so brief that we couldn't track them down."

The angry voice was accompanied by heavy banging.

"In the past six days, we have lost a total of 291 warships, including 83 capital ships."

"But we only destroyed forty-six enemy ships, including five capital ships."

His voice was filled with worry; their naval advantage was rapidly eroding.

"We must win, at all costs," a commanding voice rang out.

"Once we conquer two human colony planets and utilize their industrial facilities, the slaves will build us more warships and War Satellite."

"Yes, sir." The commanders could only hang up the communication and continue their pursuit of the cunning black warship.

Three hours later, Santiago met his target: a Rangdan capital ship, on par with Imperium battleships.

"Fire!"

Two beams of colorful Aether light shot out from both sides of the bow.

The beam of light pierced through layers of obstacles in the void, hitting the enemy ship with pinpoint accuracy.

In the holographic image, white electric arcs collided with one stone after another, and the beam of light visibly shrank.

"Saturation firepower."

"Open the fleet channel."

Santiago has given the order: there is no longer any need to hide.

Then the "Astrologer" looked up and gazed out the window.

A series of sounds came through his Communicator.

"My lord, the Ramillies-class Star Fortress has arrived in the Shana System."

"My lord, the ambush was successful. Thirteen enemy ships were destroyed, including five capital ships."

"My lord, the ambush was successful. Four enemy ships and one capital ship were destroyed."

"..."

The dazzling starlight awakened in "The Astrologer" memories of Cepra Mundy's childhood, gazing up at the Sun in his home galaxy.

He clenched his right hand slightly, as if grasping the stars, while simultaneously feeling as if the stars within his body were shattering.

I became a true "Astrologer".

Santiago felt a surge of power within him, dispelling the fatigue of nearly a week of tension, and he issued commands in the Chapter channel.

"Launch a full-scale attack!"