"You betrayed the Emperor, Abdullah!"
Kras's roar exploded amid the sharp clash of blades. His twin swords whirled into an impenetrable curtain of light, holding firm against Abdullah's scimitar as it pulsed with ghostly blue psychic energy and struck with a viper's cunning.
Every collision sent blinding sparks flying, all the more savage beneath the command chamber's cold lights.
"Betrayal?" Abdullah's voice came through his Power Armour's Helmet.
"It was the Emperor! He betrayed us first! He betrayed humanity's future and deceived our father!"
He suddenly surged forward, sweeping aside the sword in Craston's right hand at an unnatural angle with his ghostly blue scimitar. Then he delivered three lightning-fast slashes, aimed at Craston's neck, heart, and sword-bearing right wrist.
"The Great Crusade?" Abdullah's assault never paused, relentless as the venom spilling from his mouth.
"It's nothing but a blood-soaked fig leaf! Beneath that so-called 'glory' and 'unity' lie slaughterhouses for countless races, graves where the truth lies buried! Open your eyes, Craston! What you call loyalty is nothing but blind obedience, mindless devotion!"
Kras brought his left-hand blade back, barely deflecting the strike at his neck with its spine while retreating sharply to avoid the point aimed at his heart. But his right wrist was a fraction too slow.
The cold blade sliced across his Power Armour's wrist guard, leaving a deep gouge. A few drops of blood seeped through the gaps in the damaged fibre bundles.
He grunted, but his footing remained steady. A backhand slash swept toward Abdullah's ribs, forcing him to defend.
"Utter nonsense!" Kras's voice was hoarse with anger and exertion, his eyes blazing.
"You traitor, your mind poisoned by heresy! Abdullah, look around you! Is this what the new 'ideals' you follow have brought us?!"
Around them, the scene stood frozen.
The fully armed