Three Hunters

Ronald crept through the shadows of abandoned cargo containers. He knew what the Space Wolves were like—they loved being hunters, loved the hunt. As it happened, so did he. When he felt the ship shudder violently, he realized that without point-to-point teleportation, the Space Marines had no Terminators to help them complete their mission.

After smearing several symbols capable of amplifying soul fluctuations, the Demons busy slaughtering one another all moved toward the warriors reeking of wolves. However, the Demons delayed them far less than Ronald had expected. He had not had enough time to set his traps, and the weapons he carried were likewise insufficient to wipe out an entire squad of Space Marines.

He could sense that he had successfully drawn over the strongest old hunter. Now all he needed were a few precise explosions to throw the entire area back into chaos, then he could use the blood he had saved to draw fresh runes. How could a lone wolf separated from the pack possibly survive being surrounded?

Ronald's evil sense sent waves of stabbing pain through his skull. Instinctively, he rolled away, spun around, aimed, and fired.

Several bolts exploded where Ronald had been standing, spraying metal fragments that scraped against his armor and scattered tiny sparks. He could see the ice-blue figure of the Space Wolf weaving between shacks and cargo containers, rapidly closing in while pinning down his movements with terrifyingly precise bursts of fire.

"What an astonishing hunting speed!" He pressed the detonator in his hand, and the bombs planted at fragile structural points exploded at once. Buildings with ruined supports collapsed one after another under artificial gravity, crashing into each other. The precisely calculated falling debris triggered a chain of destruction, like gently nudged dominoes.

Swathes of collapsed building wreckage separated White Claw from Ronald. The choking dust, mixed with clouds of vapor spewing from ruptured pipes, rendered both of their scanners useless.

Taking cover amid the rubble, Ronald swiftly used a blasphemous dagger dipped in innocent blood to carve runic seals on the wall that would attract Demons. Before the old wolf could sniff out his scent with that enhanced dog nose of his, he had to drown him in a sea of Demons.

The sounds of climbing and running reached Ronald's helmet. The furious White Claw clearly had no intention of worrying about stealth any longer. Like an enraged wolf king, he lunged at the prey that had fooled him, blood-red eyes glaring and fangs bared in thirst for blood.

As Ronald completed the final stroke, a blasphemous wind from the Warp blew outward from the runes, carrying the fluctuations of their souls farther away. The Demons lurking in every corner of the ship's lower decks sensed those delicious soul fluctuations and surged toward the ruins of the living quarters.

"Now, I just need to survive this madman."

"There you are, traitor!" White Fang's figure burst through the air and lingering smoke, pouncing on Ronald.

The Frost Axe collided with the blasphemous Chainsword. Its disruption field continuously shattered the Chainsword's teeth like bloodstained fangs, but the Demon dwelling within the Chainsword constantly drew power from the Warp to repair it.

White Fang raised a leg and kicked Ronald squarely in the chest.

The force of the kick was so great that it broke their deadlock of blades and left a clear dent in Ronald's breastplate.

"Definitely a dog. You like biting people and kicking them, huh?"

"Let's see how long you can keep running your mouth."

Seeing White Fang raise his hand, Ronald yanked a heavy metal plate from the pile of scrap beside him and held it before himself. A blast of searing plasma melted the plate into a pool of red-hot liquid. Ronald flung the molten flow at White Fang, then quickly fled backward.

White Fang gripped the Frost Axe and gave chase once more.

The two raced through the ruins. With his superhuman physique and exceptional agility, White Fang could stay close behind Ronald without losing sight of him again. Yet Ronald, constantly drawing power from the Warp, maintained an astonishing speed as well. Even while dodging White Fang's plasma shots, he kept the distance between them steady.

"Victory is almost here. I can already feel a Demon of astonishing power approaching." Ronald could already imagine the delightful sight of White Fang bleeding dry, dying for the Corpse Emperor.

But a heavy brass greatsword thrust through the wall and struck Ronald's running figure directly. The diagonally embedded blade pierced straight through his body, leaving him utterly unable to move. Its edge perfectly avoided every fatal vital point, trapping him in agony where he could neither live nor die.

A cruel, contemptuous laugh drifted over. "What a coward! A coward deserves a coward's death!"

"AAAAAH! No! No!!!"

The brass greatsword burst into flames, burning Ronald's grievously wounded body. Slender arms of fire and blood formed across the blade's surface, smearing Ronald—already reduced to ash—back onto the sword.

White Fang stopped and looked at the large hole blasted open by the flying sword.

A Demon with two pairs of enormous horns leaped out through the hole. His heavy armor and massive body gave him astonishing weight as he slammed viciously into the ground, leaving behind a pair of cloven hoofprints embedded in the metal decking.

A cluster of crimson flame burned between the twin horns on its forehead. Its armor seemed forged from magma, covered in irregular yet dense, scorching patterns and edged in brass. Huge bloodstained iron spikes covered the armor, while bone wings spread arrogantly behind it, casting White Fang into the shadow of its enormous body.

"A Bloodthirster? Fenris, this prey is worth fighting."

Rather than being intimidated by the Bloodthirster's terror, White Fang's fighting spirit surged even stronger. Such dreadful and powerful enemies were rare. It had been nearly a hundred years since he had encountered an opponent strong enough to put him on guard. How could White Fang not be thrilled?

He swore that for The Emperor, for Leman Russ, and for the glory of Fenris, he would defeat this damned Demon.

"I will soak your skull thoroughly in blood." The greater Demon drew its brass greatsword one-handed and launched the first attack.

One savage slash sent White Fang flying. The unstoppable force even made his enhanced arm throb with intense pain.

The greater Demon beat its wings and flew toward White Fang, sweeping aside rubble with its greatsword as it advanced. It did not like these piles of metal obstructing the arm it used to swing its blade.

Every strike from the greater Demon was crushingly powerful. If White Fang had not possessed sufficient melee experience, allowing him to repeatedly deflect the greatsword's force with his axe, he could never have held on for so long. But beneath such an unending barrage of fierce blows, being cut in half was only a matter of time.