A Duel That Collapsed at the First Blow

When he heard Iax describe itself as a human creation, Sien showed clear disbelief, while the term "Men of Gold" left him somewhat bewildered.

"Brother, I believe I've seen the term 'Men of Gold' in a historical record somewhere. It seemed to concern the Dark Age of Technology, a period that predates even the founding of the Imperium."

A Black Templars warrior stepped out from one side of the group and explained it to Sien.

"But no historical record offers any detailed account of them. That is a lost period of history. Almost all historical material from before the Imperium's founding has been lost. As far as I know, many ancient relics come from those ages."

Sien turned his gaze back to Vashul, seeking confirmation.

Vashul silently nodded.

"It is exactly as your Battle-Brother said. Iax is a creation from the Dark Age of Technology. By its own account, it is the culmination of the technology of ancient humanity and the Engineers. It only recently awakened and appears to have no recorded memories from after the Imperium's founding. It knows nothing of the Imperium or the Emperor."

Iax watched their exchange without concern, continuing to stare at the black-armored warriors before it.

"You seem to know a great deal that others do not. Good. I need that information. Tell me, where did humanity and the Men of Gold go?"

The Astartes were not always fighting. They were the blades of the Imperium, superhuman demigods, but they also had interests of their own. A fondness for reading was common, and it was hardly surprising that some of those readers preferred history books.

The Battle-Brother who had just spoken was one such warrior, fond of browsing books and documents in his spare time.

But these lost histories were beyond their knowledge. Perhaps the Imperial archives on Holy Terra held the answers, but they had no time to sift through that vast repository.

Furthermore, the Imperium strictly prohibited the use of electronic technology to store such material. Even the Imperial archival department could not make sense of those countless parchment scrolls and paper books.

Faced with Iax's question, the Astartes who had spoken could only shrug helplessly.

"We don't know. Those histories are far too ancient. Perhaps only the great Emperor himself knows. Or perhaps there are records in the Imperial archives."

"Enough." Sien roughly interrupted the conversation between his Battle-Brother and Iax.

As demigods of the Imperium, Astartes warriors possessed not only superhuman physiques, but also intellects far beyond those of ordinary people.

Although the Astartes of different Chapters each had their specialties, that did not mean they were particularly weak in other areas.

Sien's words immediately irritated Iax.

"It seems you have yet to recognize your own mistakes. Interrupting others is extremely impolite. Although I did not hold you accountable for swinging that toy of yours at me, that does not mean you may keep repeating these boorish offenses!"

Sien stared intently at Iax, then drew a Power Sword from the side of another Battle-Brother nearby.

"I consider that an insult to my person! I challenge you to a Duel!"

Having his weapon disparaged as a toy was almost impossible for Sien to accept.

Even knowing he might be outmatched, Sien still chose to Duel. As a sergeant of the Third Company, he had to defend his honor.

"A Duel? What a peculiar request. According to my records, such foolish behavior occurred only during the middle and late periods of the 1K era of human history. It seems to have arisen from some notion of so-called honor or conviction."

"To think I would encounter it in this age. How fascinating. History is a cycle. The Creator's wisdom truly is remarkable."

Listening to Iax, Sien raised his Longsword high and pointed its tip at the machine's head.

"Will you run away, mysterious creation of the Dark Age of Technology? Will you play the coward?!"

"Ha, how amusing. An ant seeking to challenge a dragon—a genetically muddled, inferior augmented human? Very well. Let me indulge your vanity, though I find it utterly meaningless."

Iax's words brimmed with amusement. This was something it had never experienced before, a novel encounter.

"Now, does this Duel have any conditions? Special restrictions? No ranged weapons? Or perhaps no weapons at all? Ah, let me see how I might make you feel a little more honorable."

As it spoke, Iax suddenly strode forward. Moving at an astonishing speed, it likewise drew a Power Sword from the waist of another Astartes who had already stepped aside.

The Battle-Brother whose weapon had been taken looked stunned.

Sien did not blame this Battle-Brother. At that speed, even Sien himself could not have reacted in time.

Holding the Power Sword, Iax once again stood opposite Sien. The other Astartes had spread into a semicircle, while Vashul had retreated far to one side. A battle between these demigods was still far too terrifying for a magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The situation had already slipped beyond his control. He could only let events take their course. He had no way to intervene, nor did he dare.

As Iax held the Power Sword, the nanomachines stored in its palm quickly deciphered the weapon's genetic identification system.

When it effortlessly activated the sword's Disruption Field, Vashul nearly stared his sole remaining biological eye out of its socket.

Iax's mechanical arm swung the Power Sword with ease, as though it were a slender twig, then spun it through a flourish.

The Disruption Force Field tore through the air with a crackle.

"Are you ready?"

Sien's muffled voice came from within his helmet.

"I will allow you to strike first."

Iax answered without a care.

Feeling that contempt, Sien hesitated no longer. He swung his Power Sword and closed in.

Iax easily blocked his broad, sweeping slash with its own Power Sword.

His sidestepping backhand thrust was just as easily deflected by Iax, whose wrist could rotate a full three hundred and sixty degrees.

The colliding Disruption Force Fields crackled incessantly.

The Longswords themselves began to fracture under the impacts.

No matter how Sien attacked, Iax's Longsword always appeared precisely in the path of his next strike, effortlessly checking his assault.

In just a few seconds, the two Longswords clashed dozens of times.

Under the intense collisions, both Longswords' Disruption Force Fields rapidly weakened, and the energy in their power cells drained away.

Clang!

A section of blade spun away and clattered to the ground. The Longsword in Iax's hand, its Disruption Force Field flickering weakly, came to rest beside Sien's shoulder.

The Power Sword in Sien's hand had once again lost part of its blade.

"Crude swordsmanship. Before me, you have no honor to speak of, fragile biological construct."