The Imperium's Frontier: "God's" Help

"The Hive Fleet has launched its full-scale assault, Vito. If you have any plans, you had better execute them now." "I am already doing so, Cole."

The vox-caster crackled in Vito's ear. He walked down a deserted street; ironically, this had once been the most popular club district for the elites of the Upper Hive, but now it was more desolate than anywhere else—even quieter than the Lower Hive, which, mind you, had already been ravaged by the Tyranid once.

It was easy to understand why. Although the Upper Hive usually sat at the pinnacle of the Hive City, avoiding the toxic fumes of the Adeptus Mechanicus factories, fuel waste, and all other unpleasantries, while enjoying decent scenery and air.

Yet in times of war, these perks were far from pleasant. Why? It was simple: the Upper Hive was "upper," making it the nearest target for enemies striking from space. At this moment, that "upper" status was hardly a cause for satisfaction.

Thus, the big shots here had fled to the levels below. Vito didn't worry about their quality of life in the Mid Hive—well, perhaps it wasn't great, but Vito didn't care. In truth, he had never liked the people of the Upper Hive, so if things were truly that dire, they could only pray that the Adeptus Arbites reacted quickly.

Vito walked down the empty street, the luxurious villas on both sides standing vacant, the once-ceaseless queues nowhere to be seen.

The deathly silence of the street was chilling. Statues and angel-shaped streetlamps stood under the grim sunlight, overlooking the passerby. The gray sky was thick with the dust and debris of artillery fire, making everything feel deeply unsettling, like the sensation of an impending apocalypse.

And perhaps this apocalypse was not merely a metaphor; it was truly upon them.

Vito looked up at the firmament, where dazzling flashes of fire and striking explosions flickered incessantly. Fragments of warships and Tyranid carcasses streaked across the horizon like meteors.

It was a dense meteor shower. Countless Mycetic Spore pods burned and detonated, their wreckage streaking through the high atmosphere. The entire sky was ablaze, and beyond the sky, in the void of space, the fires of war were drawing ever closer.

"How much longer can you hold?" "Not long. I can't stop the swarm's orbital drops, and to be honest, I doubt we can last another day. We only have a third of the fleet left."

Vito watched a fire-meteor, vaguely discerning the massive cannons and the Aquila emblem upon it. "The situation is more intense than I anticipated." "I wouldn't use the word 'intense' to describe our current predicament."

The Inquisitor chuckled, lowered his head, and shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked through the cold, silent street. He turned a corner into a narrow alleyway. Green flowers and vegetation sprouted from the garden walls on either side, but in the current lighting and environment, their beauty had long since vanished.

"Do you have a plan?" Cole's voice asked, accompanied by the frantic shouting of crew members and the echoing tremors of the warship.

"I do. I believe it can solve our current problem, but..." "Is it likely to cause even greater losses or something?" "You really do know me."

Vito said with a smile, but Cole on the other end sighed. He shouted something at someone else before returning to the vox-caster. "Usually I wouldn't say this, but since we're about to be finished anyway, I don't care how we die. Go ahead with your damn plan."

Vito's laughter echoed through the empty street. He stopped and looked at the building before him. "Alright, I've arrived. I'm hanging up now. Don't die before I finish." "I'll do my best."

Cole's voice vanished. Vito looked at the cold, quiet building, read the sign at the entrance—"Shaman Club"—smiled, and walked toward it.

Several guards sitting on sandbags at the entrance spotted Vito. They raised their weapons, watching the approaching man with vigilance, but when their captain took a closer look at the man, he immediately signaled everyone to lower their guns.

"Hello there, Captain. How have you been?" Vito asked with a smile. The Shaman Club's guard captain, however, wore a look of confusion and suspicion. "Inquisitor, why are you here? Shouldn't you be..." "Organizing the Hive City's defense? Of course, but when I have a better method, I don't mind giving it a try."

Clearly, the captain didn't understand, but Vito didn't expect him to. He pointed at the peach-colored door behind the captain. "Is your boss in?" "Mr. Philus? Yes, he is." "Interesting. The rich folks have all fled below, yet he remains here. That's quite a bit of confidence."

Vito chuckled softly and looked at the captain, nodding toward the door. "Do you mind if I pay him a visit?"

The captain hesitated for a moment, then slung his rifle over his back and pushed the door open. Vito stepped inside, entering through the mahogany doors. It was truly desolate inside, especially compared to his previous visits, which was a pity.

The booths and dance floors that were usually packed with people were now empty, save for abandoned glasses and hookah pipes. The entire hall was eerily quiet, and the only guest was sitting at the bar, sipping a drink.

"You're remarkably relaxed, Mr. Philus. Haven't you noticed the giant gluttons above our heads about to chew us up?" Vito leaned against the bar with a smile. Philus glanced at Vito, looking slightly surprised, but quickly calmed down and poured him a drink. "Panic is meaningless. If destruction is destined to arrive, I choose to accept it with composure."

"Hmph, fair point." Vito picked up the glass, took a sip, and examined it with interest. "East of the East? Or Saint Fiore?" "The latter." "Generous. You're using such fine wine to entertain me?" "If we are to be finished tomorrow, wealth and fine wine have no value. We cannot take them to the afterlife."

"Where do you think you're going after you die?" Vito asked, taking another sip. Philus remained silent for a moment, then gave a slight shrug. "The Golden Throne? Same as you?" "I don't think we're going to the Golden Throne. I don't think the place we're headed is anywhere pleasant."

Vito swirled his glass. "The realm of Slaanesh isn't exactly suitable for retirement."

Philus froze for a second, his fingers turning white as he gripped his glass, but he pretended nothing was wrong and took a drink. "As an Inquisitor, isn't it inappropriate to mention such things?"

"As a local gang boss, isn't it inappropriate to help Chaos cultists have their fun?" Vito said with a smile, sipping his drink leisurely. Philus looked at him, silent for a moment, then sighed, seemingly too lazy to argue.

What was there to argue about? Being shot by an Inquisitor or being chewed up by a Tyranid—he felt the former was more comfortable, or at least a quicker death.

But Vito showed no killing intent. He finished his drink in one gulp and placed the empty glass in front of Philus. The latter looked at Vito in surprise, but Vito tapped the glass with his finger, signaling for a refill.

Vito watched the wine pour into the glass. "Do you want to die?" "No." "Coincidentally, neither do I. So, I'm here to ensure we don't have to consider a trip to the Warp just yet."

Vito picked up the glass, and Philus looked at him with confusion. "What method do you have to deal with the things above?" "I have one, but I need your help." "What kind of help?" "Take me to the altar of the Slaanesh cultists. I know it's here."

Just as I said, Philus had no intention of arguing or feigning ignorance. Even though he was speaking to an Inquisitor, he poured himself a drink and downed it in one go.

"So? Does this have anything to do with the big bugs above? Are you planning to call a Chaos daemon to help?" "Please, I am an Inquisitor. Even if I had no morals, I wouldn't do something so stupid."

"Fine, maybe I'll call one." Vito muttered under his breath, but quickly pretended nothing was wrong and took a sip of his drink.

Philus rubbed his neck and sighed. "If we survive this, will you execute me afterward?" "No." "Why should I believe you?" "Can you afford not to?"

Vito and Philus looked at each other and both laughed. Indeed, could they afford not to? They could choose not to believe him, sure, but they could also go ask the Hive Fleet what they thought about it.

Philus sighed and stood up, leaning on the counter. "Under normal circumstances, I would think I'm an idiot right now, but I can't be bothered. Follow me."

The Inquisitor finished his drink, adjusted his Bolter holster, and followed Philus. He trailed the King of the Club to the very back of this most popular establishment. They reached a stone mural in an inner courtyard—an exquisite piece depicting the primal form of life, with men and women dancing naked in a beautiful stream and forest. Philus reached out and pressed a relief.

As the trigger point of the relief was depressed, a section of the wall suddenly recessed and slid downward, revealing a flight of stairs.

"Wow, that is so damn Slaaneshi. Aren't you afraid some horny kid might press that by accident?" "Press it to get all the women here? I'd press the pretty ones first, then the ones in the corner who aren't quite as pretty."

Philus walked down the stairs, and Vito followed with his arms crossed, smiling. As they descended, it had to be said that the decor on both sides of the stairs was quite impressive. Purple tapestries, golden wainscoting, and plaster moldings adorned the space, while bright skull-shaped lanterns illuminated what should have been a dim corridor.

Vito had seen many Slaanesh cultist dens, but he discovered that even within the ranks of Chaos, there were levels of distinction. The Slaanesh cultists of the Lower and Mid Hives could never compare to the level of entertainment provided by those in the Upper Hive. Truly, Slaanesh was a perfect match for the human species.

"Ask you a question," Vito said suddenly. Philus, looking down the stairs, responded casually, "Speak." "Are you a Slaanesh cultist?" "No." "That was quick."

Philus smiled. "I am neither illiterate nor an idiot. I know the consequences of believing in Chaos. Those idiots influenced by Chaos might not notice the mutations in their bodies, but I can. So, no, I do not worship Slaanesh."

"But you still provide them with a venue, risking being branded a heretic?" "Look, Inquisitor, helping them has two benefits. First, they are a bunch of wealthy bastards. To avoid our pious and upright Lord Arbiter, they are more than happy to pay a reliable person to provide them with a place where they won't be raided by the Arbites in the middle of their pleasure. So, I can earn quite a bit of wealth and use it elsewhere."

"Second, I can use this to hold leverage over them as Slaanesh cultists, along with all their other strange habits. This dirt is very useful at times."

Vito laughed and gave a slight shrug. "A clever approach." "An Inquisitor praising a Chaos collaborator for profiteering as a 'clever approach'?" "Ha, I am not your average Inquisitor." "I can tell."

They reached the lowest hall, where Vito gazed at the colossal statue before him. Illuminated by purple flames, the figure was half-man, half-woman, with massive pincers on both hands—the unmistakable image of a Keeper of Secrets.

Vito sneered, then stepped onto the altar at the center of the white stone pillars. Philus stood to the side, watching him. After checking his surroundings to ensure everything was in order, Vito nodded with satisfaction. He looked at Philus and drew a small dagger. "Thank you, Mr. Philus. Please, leave now."

Philus gave a slight nod and departed. He had no intention of arguing; he knew that anything involving Chaos was inherently dangerous. Even without an Inquisitor there to execute him, it was best not to touch such things at all.

Vito watched Philus leave, then loosened his shoulders and rolled up his sleeves. He used the dagger to slice a small cut into his wrist, letting crimson blood drip onto the pure white Coiled Serpent scales at the center of the altar. The blood seeped into the crevices between the scales, spreading and flowing.

He sheathed the dagger, took a deep breath, and snapped his fingers. The surrounding flames dimmed until the entire dark hall was illuminated only by a beam of white light focused on where Vito stood.

Vito began chanting a profane incantation. The unknown, alien language echoed through the vast hall. As each word fell, the surrounding flames flickered in rhythm. The pure white relief sculpture before him suddenly seemed to come alive; the white serpent slithered across the altar, and wherever it passed, the flames flared up before dying down again.

The flames flickered rhythmically, repeating the pattern six times. With the sixth fierce burst, the fire did not subside; instead, it leaped from the brazier and struck the air in front of Vito.

Purple flames instantly spread, forming a complex, thin-lined array around Vito. As the array completed, the fire converged and surged upward from the center.

A figure rose from the flames, stark naked as if she had just finished bathing. Her purple skin was flawless, delicate enough to break at a touch, and devoid of any blemish—a sight that would drive any woman to madness.

Her face, possessing a beauty that defied description or any superlative, was enough to stir the heart of any man. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, shimmering with starlight. She raised her eyes from the flames, gazing at Vito with a captivating look, and the beautiful Slaanesh daemoness smiled, tracing her lips with a finger.

Her body flickered and vanished, only to reappear instantly in Vito's arms. The Inquisitor instinctively embraced the Slaanesh daemoness and smiled at her, but she leaned in directly and planted a deep kiss on his lips.

"Ah, my dear Vito, did you miss me?" the daemoness asked, her voice as melodic as a haunting song. Vito smiled as her tail slid from his shoulder, teasingly swaying against his chest.

"Of course, Lilith. I missed you too." "Liar. You've been having such a good time with other women." The daemoness playfully traced her finger along Vito's neck. "Truly, Lily, I missed you." "I missed you too."

Lilith, the Slaanesh daemoness, kissed Vito again, then sniffed him, her expression turning displeased. "You tangled with the Tyranid Will? You know your soul could have been devoured, don't you?"

"Then I suppose I should thank you for the Soul Crystal you gave me. It worked quite well." "Well, obviously. I made that thing using the souls of several Aeldari seers, only for you to waste it. I gave it to you so that if you died, your soul wouldn't be taken by anyone but me."

"It's fine, as long as I don't die, right?" Vito joked with a laugh. Lilith sighed, shook her head, and wrapped her arms around Vito's neck. "Tell me, why did you call me? Lonely?"

"No, not yet. But I wouldn't mind us meeting again later—though I hope this time you won't use your Chaos energy to 'spice things up' while we're in bed. Last time, my brain felt like it had been through a sandstorm."

A beautiful smile graced Lilith's cheeks. "I thought it was quite fun. But tell me, what do you need me to do?" "Help me tear a hole in the Warp shadow so I can get reinforcements through."

Lilith's smile faded. She held onto Vito's neck, looking him in the eyes. "You know how difficult that is, right? Opposing the will of another god." "I know, but please, my dear, can you try for my sake?"

Lilith sighed and leaned into Vito's arms, crossing her arms. "I can't do it alone." "You're a Greater Daemon, emphasis on the 'Greater'." "A Greater Daemon is still a daemon, not a god. While I suppose I count as half-one, I can't go head-to-head with the Tyranid Will. Tearing a hole through the Warp shadow to get here was already pushing it."

"Then ask your sister." At these words, Lilith's eyes suddenly filled with killing intent. Vito shook his head with a wry smile. "I'm just asking for a favor. How hard is it for her to open a hole? Just give that bastard a hit."

"Oh? Why don't you go be with her then?" "No, no, you're perfect, really. But seriously, could you ask your sister to take a break from thinking about how to eat more Aeldari souls and help me out?"

"You know she doesn't do favors for free." "I know, so I'll owe her a debt. I'll pay her back later. And you, of course—two favors, I'm winning big."

Lilith looked at the man before her, sighed helplessly, and stepped away. Her long legs touched the ground, instantly brightening the dim space. She crossed her arms and stared at him. "Fine. I'll talk to her." "I knew you'd help me."

Lilith sneered, then pondered for a moment before leaning in to whisper in Vito's ear. "Abaddon is making moves lately. Big ones." "Abaddon? What is he planning?"

Lilith smiled, waved, and walked off into the distance. "I'll tell you on our next date. Good luck~"

With that, the Slaanesh daemoness vanished, her body dissolving into purple flames. Vito let out a long sigh and rubbed his temples. "One trouble after another."

Vito then walked toward the long corridor.

"Where's Vito?" Ragnar asked as he entered the command center. He scanned the bustling hall; the arrival of the five Astartes drew everyone's attention, and the staff paused to kneel in respect.

"Please, continue your work. Pay us no mind," Captain Mikael told them. The command center soon returned to its frantic pace. The five giants looked at the Governor, Olivia, who stood before them looking somewhat flustered.

"My lady, where is the Inquisitor?" Olaf asked, his tone impeccably polite. Olivia shook her head, clearly unaware. "I don't know, my lord. He suddenly said he had to take care of something and left. He didn't tell me why."

"What? He didn't tell his latest woman? He must be off to die a glorious death!" Ragnar declared with conviction, only to have an apple hit him in the back of the head.

Everyone looked toward the door, where Vito stood. The Inquisitor straightened his collar and walked into the hall. "I'm not ready to report to the Golden Throne for retirement just yet."

"Then where did you go?" Lancelot asked. Vito walked up to the five giants, arms crossed. "Saving the world." "What?" Ragnar asked, picking up the apple and taking a bite.

"You four, go pilot the Blue Shark Thunderhawk. Mikael, I need you to take over the Hive City's defense for me." "What are you going to do, Inquisitor? Take them with you."

"I'm going to kick the Tyranid mother's ass." Vito strode toward the exit of the command center. "You four! Go get the ship ready! We don't have much time!"

"Where are you going?" Ragnar's head poked out from behind the door, shouting, followed by the heads of three others watching Vito run off.

"To fly my ship! I hope those idiots haven't scratched it!"

The four giants looked at each other, then bolted out the door, leaving Olivia and Captain Mikael to exchange an awkward glance before both sighing in resignation.