The new knowledge was how to turn waaagh energy into weapons. Grom had connected to Sneaky Boss's waaagh! field, and that knowledge had been shared with him.
Green light poured from Grom's hands, instantly enveloping the severed Warhammer. A new, green Warhammer appeared, firmly blocking the Black Relic Sword!
The battle between the Emperor's Champion and Grom entered its second phase. This time, Grom also had a power backing him-not only knowledge of how to wield waaagh energy, but some of Sneaky Boss's fighting techniques as well.
With the disparity in their weapons gone, Grom's superior strength and skill instantly gave him the upper hand in every respect.
A dozen exchanges later, despite fighting with all his might, the Emperor's Champion still fell. He died beneath Grom's hammer, adding an excellent trophy to his Boss Rack.
Delighted by his victory, Grom opened his mouth wide and roared at the sky, "Waaagh!"
In his heart, his yearning for and admiration of Sneaky Boss's strength grew even greater, second only to what he felt for Gork and Mork.
Meanwhile, in the deepest, most central section of the Hive City, where the sacred relic of the "Machine God" was protected, Duncehead was leading his Boyz in an assault on the Skitarii guarding it.
Plex had already led his most elite Skitarii in repelling two Ork assaults. The Vanguard, a branch of the Skitarii whose bodies were mostly mechanical augmentations and who each carried a Plasma Gun, had played a tremendous role in the defense.
There were also several towering Mechs, all of them automated. Having suffered through the Men of Iron Rebellion, the Imperium of Man forbade AI, but with the battle so desperate, Plex had resorted to some dangerous measures.
In his words, it was the Machine God's blessing that had brought