"Someone give me a hand. I've run into one I can't handle."
Nibelung's languid voice carried a hint of seriousness from the other side of the ship compartment. He kept retreating as he fought, each step cracking the floor beneath him. Zhang Jian traced silvery arcs in his hands, but his opponent blocked every strike.
Facing Nibelung was none other than Khorne's Queen, Valkia.
One of Khorne's most favored warriors, a chosen champion who had proven her worth on countless battlefields, now stood before Nibelung.
Her movements were agile and graceful, but that grace concealed deadly intent.
She held a Bloodied Spear in one hand and a shield in the other. Forged from bones from Khorne's Realm, the shield was covered in runes praising bloody battle, which glowed faintly amid the shocks of combat.
Valkia's spear darted out like a viper, every thrust aimed straight at Nibelung's vitals.
Though Nibelung was experienced and skilled, his defense grew increasingly strained before Valkia, and his counterattacks grew weaker.
He could barely withstand Valkia's assault and had no strength left to strike back.
Valkia could sense Khorne's words.
The Blood God's voice echoed in her mind, beating against her soul like war drums, guiding her, directing her, telling her to seek out the strongest opponent.
Khorne did not need her to Butchery the weak or bully opponents who could not withstand a single blow.
The Blood God craved thrilling battles, evenly matched struggles, contests that would set his blood boiling.
And the strongest was clearly not the ordinary perpetual before her.
Valkia's gaze passed over Nibelung's shoulder toward the figure locked in fierce combat with Ang'grath in the distance—Hercules.
The Primarch Bodyguard was single-handedly fighting Ang'grath and three other Bloodthirsters. His greatsword swept through the air, every slash trailing blood, every parry sending