Ten claws like steel blades, a metal skeleton wrapped in tattered human skin and glaring with scarlet ghostly eyes lunged at him, carrying dried bloodstains and a foul stench.
If this scene had been from a horror movie, it would certainly have become the childhood nightmare of many and a classic of cinematic history.
But Chen Xi merely raised the Power Sword in his hand without the slightest ripple in his heart and used its blade to block the Flayed One's claws.
Then, with the chant, "The Emperor grants me the Sword of Holy Flame," the disintegration field along the blade ignited.
As blue lightning crackled, Chen Xi simply twisted his blade, instantly severing the Flayed One's claws.
As he recited the second line, "Flames burn the enemy and purge the heretic," golden fire blazed across the blade of the relic Power Sword adorned with a Purity Seal.
Chen Xi leveled the blade, gripped the hilt with both hands, and made one smooth slash. A sword wave formed of flames shot out, cutting the Flayed One before him in half within a single breath.
The blazing sword wave struck another two Flayed Ones, igniting the tattered human skins draped over them and incinerating their bodies as well.
At the same time, Gutierrez tore off a Flayed One's head with an arm encased in a Tau Steel gauntlet, crushed it into a lump, and tossed it aside.
"Is that a Relic Blade?" Gutierrez looked at the Power Sword in Chen Xi's hand with obvious envy.
Though he had phrased it as a question, Gutierrez was certain of his judgment.
After all, aside from a holy relic, nothing else could produce such special effects.
As he spoke, Gutierrez swung his Forged Great-Axe down onto a Flayed One's skull, shattering both its head and the human skull fixed atop it.
"A masterwork relic Power Sword called Oath of Holy Flame. It can unleash sword waves made of holy fire when swung. It is especially effective against all non-human targets, as well as heretical Traitors. It deals double damage to Chaos and double damage to fallen Space Marines." Chen Xi briefly introduced the relic in his hand. Though it could not compare to the holy sword once wielded by the Emperor himself, which was now in the Thirteenth Primarch's possession, it was still an exceptionally powerful weapon.
As he spoke, Chen Xi assumed a sword-stroking stance. The holy flames on the blade surged under the psychic power he poured into them, then he flicked his hand and launched them at a Flayed One in the distance.
This was a technique Chen Xi had developed by combining psychic power with his Relic Blade, using psychic power to alter the shape and firing method of the holy flame sword wave.
Judging from the results so far, it worked quite well, turning what had originally been area damage into single-target damage.
Hearing Chen Xi's explanation, Gutierrez's envy deepened, though his helmet kept it from showing.
While using the mechanical arm mounted on his backpack to control his boltgun's fire, he could not help but praise it. "A relic truly is extraordinary. If someone wanted to obtain equipment like this through normal means, only special figures such as a Chapter Champion could probably get one—and even then, it would not be as useful as yours.
"No exaggeration: if I told any Chapter that I was willing to trade a Relic Blade for help, that Chapter would probably send an entire company to permanently station itself on this planet."
Relic-grade weapons and equipment were extremely rare, especially masterwork weapons. Based on value alone, Chen Xi could even trade the Relic Blade in his hand for a cruiser.
"That may be true, but even if you were willing to trade a relic, no one would dare take it!" Chen Xi extinguished the flames on the holy sword, rested it over his shoulder, and spoke.
How could he not know how precious relics were within the Imperium? But precisely because they were so valuable, nearly every relic in the Imperium was registered. Whether it was lost, damaged, or transferred to a new owner, there would be records to trace it.
Trying to use a relic in a transaction? The moment he met with the buyer, the Inquisition's sentence of excommunication would probably arrive right after.
"That is true. Forget relics—masterwork weapons and Power Armor are rare enough. You have a whole set of holy relics here. If people found out, even Brother Abaddon might take notice." Gutierrez could not help nodding.
While a Chaos Warmaster would not exactly lack relics, he would not mind acquiring another. It was entirely possible that he might send a Black Legion warband under his command to seize it.
Though more likely, some unknown minor Chaos warband would covet the holy relics, hoping to profane them in exchange for the blessings of the Chaos Gods.
"By the way, won't there be trouble leaving this set of holy relics in the Ecclesiarchy church? The Ecclesiarchy on this planet probably lacks the ability to protect relics, right?" Gutierrez pulled his Forged Great-Axe from a Flayed One's caved-in chest, his tone carrying a touch of concern and curiosity.
Because relics were so rare, a planet would usually have only one or two holy relics enshrined in its largest local church.
This allowed believers to offer prayers and worship, while also serving as a means of protecting the relics.
Rostov II was somewhat lacking in this regard and did not possess enough strength to protect relics.
As the Sisters of Battle used their boltguns to clean up the remaining Flayed Ones, Chen Xi answered Gutierrez, "There is no need to worry about that for now. Once the Order of Sisters establishes its convent, it will be fine.
"With a convent of Sisters of Battle, this planet's defenses will be considered properly established.
"Then, as long as we raise the training standard of the Planetary Defense Force, we should have no problem protecting ourselves before the Great Rift opens."
Though only thirty years remained until the Great Rift opened, that was still an exceptionally long period for mortals. Whether in the 3K Era or the 40K Era, it was enough time for two full generations to live out their lives.
Of course, when measured against the scale of the entire galaxy and the Imperium of Man, thirty years truly was no more than the flick of a finger.
Chen Xi was focused on surviving until the Great Rift opened, and Gutierrez saw nothing wrong with that.
He merely asked Chen Xi, "What about after the Great Rift opens? We still have thirty years, and we may have developed by then, but we should have a long-term plan as well, shouldn't we?"
"Developing the planet is one part of it. Rostov II is the capital of the Sub-sector we are currently in. Although this Sub-sector is practically undeveloped, that also means we can take whatever we want from it." Chen Xi had naturally considered how they would handle the galaxy-scale catastrophe of the Great Rift opening. "This time, Mai Mai has gone to negotiate cooperation with a Forge World, and I asked him to find a way to obtain a forge furnace.
"Once it arrives, you and Magos Ovilia can oversee the forge furnace. It may not be able to produce much, but it should be enough to support our initial development of this star system over the next thirty years.
"Combined with the growth of our own strength, thirty years should be enough for the entire Sub-sector to begin taking shape.
"Then, as long as we survive the period when the Great Rift opens and wait for the Thirteenth Primarch's Indomitus Crusade to reach us, the rest will not be a problem."
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