After Howard narrowly killed the Wizard, he did not pause. Feeling as though he had become a true "Arbites," he aimed the Heavy Stubber at the Mutants and sentenced them to death.
Seeing the blue-robed Psyker slain, the Mutants' morale collapsed. They immediately fell into chaos and fled in every direction.
"Kill them! Don't let a single one escape!"
The "Arbites" shouted loudly. The workers instinctively obeyed his command and launched an attack on the Mutants.
After the battle ended, the blond noble picked up his communicator and loudly called for the deputy he had appointed.
"Yaxin! Yaxin!"
Receiving no response, Howard formed a suspicion. He shouted at the dozen or so foremen approaching him.
"Follow me!"
The foremen did not hesitate for even a moment and followed behind the "Arbites."
At the same time, in Lukpo Hive.
Thierry had encountered another powerful opponent: a blue-robed man with a pair of sharp talons as deadly as Chainswords, whose attacks were exceedingly strange.
Every one of his attacks seemed to have been anticipated by his opponent. Like a puppet on strings, he could only move to the rhythm of the blue-robed enemy.
Each enemy attack came precisely during the opening after Thierry had finished an attack.
Thierry knew that his enemy did not completely comprehend the Way of "Osberch-Vaya" as Nimrod did, but relied on sorcery instead.
To kill him, I must exceed the limits of his foresight.
The "Warrior" gripped the Power Sword in his hand tightly, his eyes gleaming with fierce fighting spirit.
He is not my king. I can definitely do this!
Thierry charged forward. Since first taking up a sword, he released his battle instincts for the first time.
The "Warrior's" slash was no longer constrained by the Way of "Osberch-Vaya." The crackling Power Sword tore through the air and cut toward the blue-robed man's right shoulder.
Unlike before, the blue-robed man saw no image of his opponent's attack appear in his mind.
His birdlike eyes spun rapidly.
His multicolored irises expanded like the aperture of a camera lens.
In contrast, his pupils rapidly contracted.
The blue-robed man hurriedly twisted aside. The Power Sword sliced past his body, and the crackling Disruption Field shredded his blue robe, exposing a chest covered in densely packed eyes.
Though he still had not injured his opponent, the "Warrior's" confidence soared. He knew his idea had been correct.
Thierry stepped forward and withdrew his sword, evading the grasping left claw before immediately sweeping his blade sideways.
The "Warrior's" attacks came like surging tides, each wave higher than the last. He no longer thought about how to use the Way of "Osberch-Vaya" to strike down his opponent.
Yet every blow he delivered contained the Way of "Osberch-Vaya."
After fourteen years of practice, he had long since woven "Osberch-Vaya" into his body. It had become his instinct.
The "Warrior's" superhuman agility overwhelmed the blue-robed man's foresight, faster than his mutated eyes could capture.
After nine consecutive strikes, Thierry combined the thrust of the first form with the weak-point attack of the twenty-third in a single lunge. The Power Sword pierced the largest disgusting eye in the center of his enemy's chest.
With a piercing scream, the searing energy of the Disruption Field burned the disgusting mutated body.
Thierry twisted his wrist, spinning the Power Sword and grinding every eye to pieces.
As he pulled out his sword, understanding dawned on him.
Before this, I had always practiced, trying to fuse the Way of "Osberch-Vaya" like my king did, but I could never accomplish it.
Today, in this moment of crisis, I did it without meaning to.
I am not a sword-fighting Servitor that copies sword techniques. I am a "Warrior" who, even when facing a powerful enemy, still believes in himself and finds the key to victory.
As Thierry realized this, his exhausted body immediately filled with strength, and the Power Sword in his hand seemed to become one with him.
Having found his own path as a "Warrior," he immediately wielded his Power Sword and charged into the horde of Mutants.
At the same time, Howard finally followed the passageway and found his regiment.
The moment he arrived, he discovered that the passageway had been blasted into a massive crater. The tracks had been destroyed, and the train had fallen to the lower level.
Leading the workers into the battlefield, the blond noble immediately ran into a middle-aged noble dressed in luxurious clothes.
"It's you, Bogush! You traitor! How dare you betray my lord!"
Bogush was shocked upon seeing the "Arbites."
"Howard, you're actually alive? Impossible! The Enlightenment Envoy said he would personally punish you."
"Could it be...? No, impossible. The Enlightenment Envoy possesses power bestowed by the God of Wisdom. How could he have failed?"
The "Arbites" gave a cold smile. "Traitor, die!"
He raised the Heavy Stubber and pulled the trigger. Bogush was instantly riddled with bullets.
After clearing out the traitor's private soldiers and the Mutants, Howard found Yaxin.
Yaxin, with his straight nose and resolute face, strode quickly before the commander and spoke in a guilty tone.
"My lord, while I was on my way here under your orders, I encountered Bogush. He proposed joining the team."
"I failed to see through the traitor's despicable scheme. The train exploded halfway through the journey, and I was held up."
Howard nodded slightly. The instant he saw Bogush, he had already guessed roughly what had happened.
"You bear responsibility, but you cannot be entirely blamed."
"Reflect deeply on this. Do not make the same mistake next time."
"Yes, my lord."
After returning to Vostonia, Nimrod did not immediately return to the Hive City under his control. He trusted Howard and Thierry's abilities; they could withstand the Mutants' attack.
His sights were no longer confined to his own base. Instead, he looked toward all of Vostonia. To achieve this goal as soon as possible, he needed to win the support of Magos Kivior-2 of Vostonia Altar 1.
Just as the Forge World rulers of Mars held influence throughout the Adeptus Mechanicus far exceeding that of rulers from other Forge Worlds, the Magos of Vostonia Altar 1 was also the leader of the local Tech-priests.
Through the aircraft's window, he looked down at Mikhailovsk Hive.
Vostonia's largest Hive City rose like a mountain. Hive Spires pierced the dim yellow clouds, while dense buildings spread below like a Steel Forest.
The aircraft landed in the Adeptus Mechanicus docking area between the two tallest Hive Spires. Nimrod brought Rosicky, Wojciech, and the others to Altar 1.
Shortly afterward, Nimrod met Magos Kivior-2, who wore a red robe and had not a trace of flesh left on his body. He first brought up the confirmation of their agreement.
"Magos, I have come to obtain the star charts in accordance with our previous agreement."
Kivior-2's faceplate lit up, and a mechanical synthesized voice sounded.
"Initiating identity verification procedure. Identified as contract party: The Monarch Nimrod."
"Requesting exchange of information regarding contractual obligations."
Wojciech immediately took out a Data Slate and brought up the relevant page.
Two beams of light shot from the Magos's faceplate, scanning the page on the Data Slate from top to bottom.
"According to the contractual obligations listed above, all star charts possessed by Vostonia's altars shall be provided to The Monarch Nimrod."
As he spoke, his mechanical tendrils slipped beneath his red robe, then produced a crystal chip.
"Delivering contractual obligation: data crystal chip containing star charts."
Wojciech accepted the crystal chip, inserted it into the Data Slate, and quickly examined it.
After confirming that everything was correct, he nodded to Nimrod.
With the star charts in hand, Nimrod looked at Kivior-2.
"Magos, the transaction is complete. Now it is time to discuss the Mutant uprising."
Before you continue